Ziga Takes 143rd at Nationals

Nov. 18, 2006

Final Stats

WEST CHESTER, Ohio - Franklin & Marshall senior Karen Ziga finished in 143rd place at the NCAA Division III National Championships hosted by Wilmington College (Ohio).This year's championship field included 279 runners competing at Voice of America Park.

Ziga completed the muddy circuit in a time of 25:20, three minutes off of the pace set by juniorSarah Zerzan of Williamette (Ore.) who logged a22:31.

"We were very happy about the overall place and finish," said Diplomats' coach Keith Dietrele. "She is now looking forward to some needed time off to focus on the distance events for track."

Ziga was the Diplomats' first female cross country runner to qualify for nationalssince Jamie Kendig '96, and the first under Dietrele in his four years running the program. She took 64th place at the NCAA Division III National Championships back in 1994. Running at nationals is a tradition at Franklin & Marshall, which has produced four NCAA All-Americans in women's cross country: Denise Paull, Terri Smith, Lois Lucente, and Amanda Shaw Milewski.