LOCK HAVEN, Pa.; Nov. 11, 2006 - The Penn State women¡¯s cross country team finished eighth overall at the 2006 NCAA Division I Mid Atlantic Regional Championships Saturday afternoon with 198 points. The regional determines which athletes will continue on to compete at the NCAA Championships. Freshman Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) had a phenomenal performance, earning her a spot at the NCAA Championships. Bucknell University hosted the Mid Atlantic Regional at the West Branch Cross Country Course at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa.

Franek finished fifth overall in 20:43.6, setting a new personal best in the 6K, and was the first freshman to cross the line. Franek earned Big Ten Runner of the Week accolades earlier in the season and will now travel to the NCAA Championships. Teammate and fellow freshman Cheryl Spring (The Woodlands, Texas) gave a sensational effort, placing 18th in 21:12.1 to earn All-Region honors.

Junior Sonja Hinish (Williamsburg, Pa.) had a solid performance as Penn State¡¯s third runner, placing 45th in 21:57.1, just ahead of freshman Jessica Babcock (Irvine, Calif.), who clocked 21:57.9 for 47th place. Sophomore Molly Ritter (Arendtsville, Pa.) stepped up to finish fifth on the team, recording a 87th place effort in 22:39.6. Sophomores Janelle Young (Lemoyne, Pa.) and Megan Noecker (Reading, Pa.) rounded out the day in 89th and 91st, with times of 22:44.9 and 22:46.8, respectively.

The Nittany Lion women just missed a top-five finish, just 18 points behind Bucknell and Villanova, which tied for fifth with 180. Princeton won the team title with a score of 56 points, followed by Georgetown with 77. Both teams will receive automatic bids to the NCAA Championships. La Salle took third place (87), with West Virginia finishing fourth (140). Pennsylvania squeaked in front of the Nittany Lions in seventh with 197, just one point ahead of Penn State.

Franek will travel to the 2006 NCAA Division I Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. November 20 for her final performance of the season.