WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Brandeis University women's cross-country team has made an appearance in United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national top 35 polls this week, coming in at 30th. The Judges, ranked seventh in the New England region, are making their first appearance in the national poll since the start of the 2014 season.

The Brandeis women, who started the season unranked, both nationally and in New England, moved into the regional Top 10 on Sept. 22, following their strong performance in the UMass-Dartmouth Shriner's Invitational Sept. 19, when they bested a field of 42 teams, including several Division II squads. The Judges also finished second to Wellesley at the season-opening Roger Williams Invitational on Sept. 5.

The team's top performer this season has been rookie Emily Bryson (Quincy, Mass./No. Quincy), leading the way for the Judges at both meets. She placed third at Roger Williams and fifth at UMass Dartmouth. Junior Maddie Dolins (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) has a pair of top 10 finishes as well, coming in fourth at RWU and 10th at UMD. Senior Kelsey Whitaker (Kingston, Mass./Notre Dame Academy), a five-time NCAA qualifier in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, was 11th at Roger Williams and improved to place eighth at UMass Dartmouth.

Junior Lydia McCaleb (Evanston, Ill. / Evanston Township) had one of the top performances of her career, placing third on the team and sixth overall at Roger Williams while taking 14th the next meet. The team's final scoring position was held by senior Maggie Hensel (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) in the opening meet and junior Kate Farrell (Windham, N.H. / Windham), who placed 17th and 20th, respectively, at their two meets.

Brandeis is running under head coach Sinead Delahunty Evans in her second full year as head coach. They are back in action this Saturday at the Keene State Invitational. The Judges are looking to return to the NCAA Championships where they finished in 22nd place in 2013. 

Click here for the full USTFCCCA Division III Cross Country poll.

For more information on Brandeis Women's Cross Country, click here or visit www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/wxc.

You can follow the team on Twitter at @BrandeisXCTF or all of Brandeis Athletics at @BrandeisJudges.