ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The No. 10 Washington University in St. Louis women's cross country team, under the direction of 26th-year head coach
Jeff Stiles, kicks off its season this weekend by hosting the annual Gabby Reuveni Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the SIUE XC Course in Edwardsville, Ill.
Two weeks later, the Bears will travel to the Jim McNichols Invite in Terre Haute, Ind., hosted by Indiana State at the LaVern Gibson XC Course on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Castleton will then host the Running of the Cows on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Bill Huyck XC Course in Northfield, Minn. This is a Pre-Nationals meet, as the 2026 NCAA Championships for Div. III will take place on the course later in the season.
A quick midweek meet on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at nearby Principia will take place at the North Farm Cross Country Course across from the Panthers' campus entrance in Elsah, Ill.
The final regular-season meet will be on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Rock Island, Ill., hosted by Augustana at the Saukie Golf Course.
The 2026 UAA Championships will be on Saturday, Oct. 31, at the St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville, Ill. Chicago is serving as the host institution. The Bears will host one final 5k meet on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. on the track at Francis Olympic Field.
WashU will return to Rock Island, Ill., on Saturday, Nov. 14, for the NCAA Midwest Regional, looking to defend its title from a year ago.
The Bears will finish the season back in Northfield, Minn., at the Div. III National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 21.
WashU returns junior All-American
Lucinda Laughlin, who finished 16th individually at the NCAA Championships after claiming the NCAA Midwest Regional individual title. Fellow juniors
Lauren Raley,
Maddy Lee, and
Sally Carrington all finished in the top 30 at regionals to help the Bears claim the title.
Five seniors return in
Lily Dipple,
Kira Larner,
Vivienne Larson,
Amelie Maltz, and
Avery Nason for their fourth year with the Bears. In addition to Laughlin, Lee, and Raley, juniors
Mackenzie Raue,
Sofia Sheldon, and
Grace Todd are back on the trails for WashU.
Sophomores
Taylor Buese,
Gianna Ezekwe,
Anna McAndrew,
Lucy Peterson,
Megan Raue, and
Leah Sekulich are back for their second season.
They are joined by first-years
Emily Anand,
Madeline Cassidy,
Chloe Hamilton,
Ella Jackson,
Lucy Luetkemeyer, and
Piper Stevens.
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