The Eagle women's cross country team again proved to be one of the most successful sports at MWC in 2001, placing in the top three in five of seven races throughout the season. Mary Washingron sent two runners, freshman Erin Connelly and senior Liz Hackenburg, to the NCAA national championships, marking the first time since 1997 that an MWC runner competed at the national championship. 

 

Connelly and Hackenburg proved to be a lethal one-two punch, as the pair combined for ten top-ten finishes in seven races. The Eagles opened with a third place

finish at the University of Virginia, 'and followed with another third place finish at Western Maryland College.

 

After placing seventh at George Washington University, the Eagles won the Virginia state championship at Bridgewater College, with Hackenburg and Connelly finishing one-two in the race. The Eagles finished fourth among 26 schools at Gettysburg before claiming their tenth conference title in eleven years the following

week.

 

Connelly was named CAC Runner of the Year after winning the conference race, with Hackenberg taking second, Jessica Edberg placing third, and Dana Folta garnering fourth place. Maggie Marriott and Laura Marafino also finished in the top ten, placing seventh and eighth overall. Caitlin Kinkead and Rebecca Griffith also ran to all-conference honors, placing in the top fifteen.

 

The Eagles earned a third place finish at the NCAA regionals in Jackson MS, with Connelly and Hackenburg finishing seventh and eighth, overall.