WAYNESBURG, Pa. (August 27) – The Waynesburg University women's cross country team is gearing up for the 2025 season.
 
The Yellow Jackets begin their fall schedule on Aug. 29 at the Westminster Fisher Invitational.
 
2024 Season Review: The Jackets placed seventh at the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships for the second-straight season while missing two of their top runners in the championship meet. Waynesburg went on to place 21st at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.
 
The Jackets opened the season by winning the meet title at the W&J Invitational and notched a slew of season-best times at Gettysburg's Aubrey Shenk Invitational.
 
"Last season was a lot of fun and we really grew as a team," said 15th-year head coach Chris Hardie. "We saw a lot of progress in our returners, and some new runners stepped up as the season progressed. That was great to see. I think we have a really good foundation as we head into 2025."
 
Following the season, Waynesburg was honored as an All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 15th time in the last 16 years.
 
2025 PAC Preseason Poll: The Jackets were selected seventh in the PAC preseason poll.
 
School (first-place votes) - Points - 2024 PAC Championships finish
1. Allegheny (4) - 105 - 1st of 11 (45 pts.)
2. Grove City (3) - 101 - 2nd of 11 (64 pts.)
3. Geneva (4) - 97 - 6th of 11 (129 pts.)
4. Saint Vincent (1) - 96 - 3rd of 11 (75 pts.)
5. Washington & Jefferson - 93 - 5th of 11 (124 pts.)
6. Franciscan - 77 - 4th of 11 (84 pts.)
7. Waynesburg - 56 - 7th of 11 (210 pts.)
8. Hiram - 47 - 8th of 8 (NCAC Championships)
9. Westminster - 45 - 10th of 11 (283 pts.)
10. Chatham - 36 - 8th of 11 (249 pts.)
11. Thiel - 20 - 9th of 11 (274 pts.)
12. Bethany - 19 - 11th of 11 (325 pts.)
 
Key Returners: The Jackets welcome back consistent finishers from up and down their lineup for 2025.
 
"We bring back a solid core of runners this season," said Hardie. "Up and down our lineup are ladies who have raced some big races such as regionals and pre-nationals, and I think that experience will be something we rely on this year."
 
Senior Grace Tanksley headlines Waynesburg's 2025 lineup as a two-time All-PAC cross country runner and the conference's 10k champion during the outdoor track season this spring. Tanksley ran as Waynesburg's No. 1 finisher in al eight meets and received All-PAC Honorable Mention status with a 16th-place showing at the PAC Championships. She clocked a season-best 6k of 23:25 to finish 68th at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.
 
"Grace continues to be the most consistent runner on our team," said Hardie. "She works hard each and every day and understands the training approach and philosophy. She took a huge step in 2024 and I think she can elevate to an even higher level in 2025."
 
Sophomore Taylor Severt was Waynesburg's No. 2 runner in six meets as a freshman. She posted a season-best 6k (25:04) at Gettysburg and finished ninth at Muskingum.
 
"Taylor really impressed us last season," said Hardie. "She has a lot of running talent and works hard. The key for her is balance. She needs to continue to press at times, but she also needs to listen to her body and pull back on her training here or there."
 
Junior Chloe Fields was Waynesburg's No. 2 finisher at the PAC Championships and NCAA Regional and appeared in the Jackets' top five six times last fall. She placed 53rd at the PAC Championships and ran 25:01 to finish 122nd at regionals.
 
Junior Erin DeLong ran in Waynesburg's top seven in all eight meets and was the Jackets' N. 4 runner at PACs and at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. She finished 68th at the PAC Championships and 156th with a season-best 6k (26:17) at regionals.
 
Senior Lilly Ryer was part of Waynesburg's top seven three times and ran a season-best 6k (28:29) at Lock Haven. Junior JaLisa Fuller made three appearances in Waynesburg's top seven in her debut season with the Jackets last fall.
 
Sophomores Addison Blair and Madison Bidniuk made multiple appearances in Waynesburg top seven as freshmen. Blair was a top-seven finisher in each of the final three meets of the season, finishing 89th at the PAC Championships and running a season-best 6k (28:08) at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. Bidniuk was a top-seven runner four times and was Waynesburg's No. 5 finisher at Muskingum.
 
Newcomers: Sophomore Amber Sallee (Bentleyville, Pa. / Bentworth) joins the squad after completing in outdoor track for the Jackets last spring. Waynesburg also welcomes in eight freshmen this fall.
 
"We are excited for this group of freshmen," said Hardie. "Not only because they have talent and have the passion for the sport, but because they are a strong group of leaders who want to help take the program to the next level."
 
Looking at the Schedule: The Waynesburg cross country schedule features six regular season meets before the conference and regional championships in November.
 
The PAC Championships are set for Nov. 1 in Meadville, Pa., with a preview meet scheduled for Sept. 20. The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional will be held Nov. 15 in Newville, Pa., which also hosts the Dickinson Long-Short Invitational on Sept. 27.
 
Waynesburg opens the season at the Westminster Fisher Invitational on Aug. 29 and continues with trips to Bethany (Sept. 13) and Gettysburg (Oct. 18).

Last Word: "Our theme for our season is 'ELEVATE' and we will look for ways to elevate on and off the xc course," said Hardie. "We are committed to finding ways to be the best version of ourselves, and we are excited for this journey."