2009 Seven Sisters Cross Country Championship

SETTING THE SCENE: Mount Holyoke is set to host the 2009 Seven Sisters Cross Country Championship on Saturday. Bryn Mawr College, Smith College, Swarthmore College, Vassar College and Wellesley College will join the Lyons in the 28th annual version of the event. Swarthmore enters the competition as the defending champion after taking top honors last fall. It was the Garnet’s second title in the 27 year history of the event. Smith and Wellesley have claimed a record seven championships apiece.

HISTORY OF SEVEN SISTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS: In November 1980, Barnard hosted Bryn Mawr, New Rochelle and Vassar in a four team basketball tournament, won by New Rochelle. Following the tournament, the original Seven Sisters institutions - Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith, Vassar and Wellesley - joined to conduct championships in common sports. Radcliffe (now Harvard in the athletic arena) was invited but opted not to join, and Barnard (now competing as Columbia) was unable participate in all championships. Without Radcliffe and Barnard, only five of the original Seven Sisters remained. Haverford and Swarthmore were invited to join the championships as cousins, and depending on the tournament, several other schools have been invited to compete, including: Agnes Scott, Haverford, Swarthmore, Simmons and Elms. Seven Sisters Tournaments are currently held in basketball, crew, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, squash, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball.