LEBANON — The Penn State Berks women's cross country team hosted the United East Championships at the Union Canal Tunnel Park in Lebanon, Pa. The Blue & White saw three runners make the top-24 as the Nittany Lions took fifth place in the 6k event.

Madelyn Holbrook placed fifth in the 6K with a time of 24:03.0 and earned 4 points on the day while Brianna Strittmatter finished ninth in 25:41.1, securing 8 points. Heather Hoffman added a 21st-place finish in 27:48.8. Olivia Zynn (34:42.8), Emma Ptersheim (34:42.8) and Abigail Pfander (41:12.9) rounded out the Nittany Lions runners.


Berks secured fifth place on the day, the best finish the team has had in the United East Championship since 2019 when they went fourth. Holbrook, placing fifth on the day, helped her be honored as the United East Rookie of the Year, which is awarded to the highest first-year runner at the championship site. She is the second Nittany Lion to receive that distinction since Katie Scheets-Jones in 2012. Holbrook's time of 24:03.0 was the 3rd best finish for a Berks runner in a 6k event in program history, only trailing behind Michelle Kiss on the top-10 list.

During the race, the top-eight runners were honored as All-Conference First Team runners, with Holbrook being recognized at the championship site. The top-24 runners at the race garnered All United East honors, with top-eight making the First Team while Second Team consists of runners from ninth to 16th place, and Third Team finishing from 17th to 24th. Strittmatter placed in the top-16, earning Second Team All-Conference Honors while Hoffman made the top-24 to get Third Team All-Conference recognition.

WHAT'S NEXT

Berks will get ready for the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14.

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