State College, Pa., Sept. 3, 2003 - The Penn State Women's Cross Country Team checked in at the No. 21 ranking in the first FinishLynx/NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country National Poll of the season.

Head Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan begins her fifth season at the helm with her most talented team to date. The Nittany Lions, who open at home Sept. 13 with the Spike Shoe Meet at the Penn State Blue/White Course, are led by All-Big Ten sophomore Tracey Brauksieck. Brauksieck logged Penn State's highest-ever regional finish last season when she came in second at the NCAA District 11 Regional.

She will be joined by junior Molly Landreth, a 2002 All-Region selection and a track and field All-American, and senior co-captain Katy Hillard, All-Big Ten in 2002, among a deep and talented roster of runners.

Penn State was the fourth-highest ranked Big Ten team in the poll and among five conference schools ranked. Michigan led the way at No. 12, followed by Michigan State (13), Indiana (18), Penn State (21) and Wisconsin (23). Fifth-ranked Villanova and eighth-ranked Georgetown led the way among fellow NCAA Region II teams.