The Wake Forest women's cross country team members have paid their dues in the regular season and finally can fully shift their attention to national titles. After a close showdown between the top five ACC teams at the conference championships two weeks ago, the ladies strode through the finish line at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship this weekend in Greenville, claiming both first place in the meet as well as a national championship bid.

The ACC confirmed its status as a formidable conference taking third, fourth, and fifth place at districts. No. 11 Virginia (93), No. 14 Duke (98), and No. 18 North Carolina (114), and of course Wake and N.C. State, took the top five spots.

Although the women harriers have not finished lower than second place in a meet during the 2002 season, the taste of victory stays sweet. "Winning regionals and beating N.C. State for the third time this season feels really good," Director and Head Coach of Track and Cross Country Annie Schweitzer-Bennett said. Fourth-ranked Wake edged out sixth-ranked N.C. State 76-83 this weekend, after the two schools tied in the ACC championships.

Sophomore Anne Bersagel, who was recently named to the 2002 All-ACC squad, was once again Wake's top runner, finishing third with a time of 19:51.6. Carolina's three-time regional champion, Shalane Flanagan, took first.

Junior Anna Sherman finished next for the Deacons in 11th place with a time of 20:32.3, and All-ACC selection Risa Rutland followed closely in 13th with a time of 20:36.9. Freshman Erin Franklin's time of 20:50.5 earned her 16th place. Also competing for the Deacons were redshirt frosh Jill Miller (33rd, 21:08.9), sophomore Danielle Coon (34th, 21:10.6) and junior Denise Hefferin (73rd, 22:02.2).

"It was hard to stay focused on this meet due to national championships only 10 days away," Schweitzer-Bennett said. "They very much rose to the challenge. This team has great character. I challenged the girls to find some part of the race that they still feel that they have not perfected and they did that." Clearly, with four runners in the top 16 spots in the southeast region, the proud coach thinks her team is "awesome."

The Deacons also secured four spots on the NCAA Southeast All-Regional squad, with Bersagel, Sherman, Rutland and Franklin recognized. The lone senior on the team, Risa Rutland, who transferred to Wake her sophomore year, has proved herself to be an essential asset to the team, as this is her third All-Region honor in her three years here.

"(Risa) has really challenged herself to have an impact on our team but more importantly nationally," Schweitzer-Bennett said.

With four teammates on the All-Region squad, the women harriers have great confidence heading into the 2002 National Championships on, Nov. 25 in Terre Haute, Ind.

"I am very confident because these ladies have such character, confidence, and the love of competing," Schweitzer-Bennett said. "They rise to the challenges in front of them."