ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University women's cross country team has established a standard of excellence through the years.
The Redhawks have won 10 consecutive East Coast Conference Championships and will begin their quest for their 11
th when the season opens this weekend.
"We have some good runners up front, and then we have young depth," Roberts' Director of Cross Country & Track and Field
Andrew Dorr said. "We have a number of freshmen and sophomores who likely won't be our top runners, but any number of them can develop throughout the season which also makes our future bright."
Here are five things to know about the Redhawks:
HORNER-RICHARDSON RECEIVES PRESEASON HONORS
Senior
Rachel Horner-Richardson has finished in the top four at the ECC Championships each of the past three seasons and was named the Preseason Runner of the Year by the conference coaches.
"It is really encouraging," said Horner-Richardson, who has finished second each of the past two seasons. "It's cool to see that the work that I have done from the first year up until now is paying off."
REDHAWKS HAVE TALENTED RETURNEES
Horner-Richardson should have some company near the front of the pack.
Senior
Lydia Roselund and sophomore
Paige Reeser both earned first-team All-ECC honors with top-five finishes at the conference championships in 2024. Reeser also set the Roberts' freshman record in the 5K last season.
Sophomore
Evelyn Schmit showed significant improvement in her first season and senior
Gianna Tribotte came on strong at the end of last year.
Sophomores
Kennedy Mitchell and
Trista Webster both finished in the Top 30 in the ECC last season.
NEWCOMERS LOOK TO FIND NICHE
Roberts welcomes eight newcomers to the program and Dorr says each of them has the ability to contribute.
"I would say that any one of the freshmen could develop quickly and perform at a high level soon," Dorr said. "We have hope for all of them."
The class includes:
Veronica Brewer,
Carissa Browne,
Lydia Demarest,
Olivia Fesmire,
Michaela Goettel,
Emma Lipa,
Solki Martin-Lacayo and
Rose Wilson.
POLL POSITION
ECC coaches have predicted that the Redhawks will finish this season in the same spot they have the previous nine – on top of the conference.
Roberts received seven first-place votes to top the annual preseason poll with 63 points.
Molloy received one first-place vote and finished with 49 points.
SCHEDULE HAS NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Roberts, which opens its season on Saturday at the Tom Balon Alumni Classic at SUNY Brockport, will spend its entire regular season competing in the state of New York.
The Redhawks are also scheduled to run at the Hamilton Short Course Meet before hosting the Harry F. Anderson Invitational on Sept. 27 during Homecoming Weekend.
The slate continues with a trip to the Canisius University Alumni Classic in Buffalo on Oct. 18 and wraps up at the ECC Championships at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park, N.Y. on Oct. 25.
The NCAA Division II East Regional is set for Nov. 8 in Hopkinton, N.H.
