CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rolled out its 2022 women's cross country pre-season coaches poll on Friday (Aug. 19) morning. Five Franklin student-athletes have been chosen as "Athletes to Watch" by the league with the Grizzlies earning a share of sixth place in the ranking.

Seniors Angelina Gregory and Jill Anspaugh, junior Mallory Watson and sophomores Haley Makowski and Ella Bashor were all recognized among the league's top runners with their nods to the pre-season watch list. Franklin earned 39 points in the poll, tied with Earlham in the team rankings.

Both Makowski and Bashor are coming off all-conference finishes at last year's HCAC Championships, with Makowski placing 11^th and Bashor finishing 18^th overall. Gregory gives the Grizzlies a third former all-conference runner in the lineup with Anspaugh and Watson both expected to hold down spots in Franklin's top-five this year.

The Grizzlies get the 2022 season underway on Sept. 3 at Blue River Park in Shelbyville, Ind. for the annual Grizzly Invitational. Action starts at 10:00 a.m.