Nov. 26, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - This year the women's cross country team enjoyed its most successful season yet, under the leadership of a talented freshman class. The most outstanding member of this group is Katie Purcell (Coraopolis, Pa.), who paced the Terps in seven meets this year. Showing steady improvement, she was able to lower her times in both the 5k and 6k races with each meet. Near midseason, she was dubbed Student-Athlete of the Week after she aided her team in achieving a ranking of seventh in the Mid-Atlantic region.

This weekend, she added another accolade to her growing list. For placing in the top 15 at the ECAC Championships Race in Bronx, N.Y., Purcell was named to the All-East squad. Her time of 18:03.5 put her in fourth place out of 59 women and also marked a new season-best. She was only three seconds away from achieving her personal goal of finishing the 5k in under 18 minutes.

Now, with her All-East title in hand, Purcell will turn her focus towards a highly competitive season with the women's indoor and outdoor track teams.