NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (August 29) – The Waynesburg University women's cross country team opened its 2025 season Friday evening at the Westminster Fisher Invitational, held on the Westminster College Cross Country Course in New Wilmington.

Senior Grace Tanksley (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence) led the Yellow Jackets with a 24th-place finish in the 102-runner field. Tanksley crossed the line in 20:55.70 to pace Waynesburg's scoring five.

All five Jacket scorers placed inside the top 50 overall, helping the squad to a seventh-place team finish with 168 points in the eight-team field. Waynesburg finished fourth among the seven Presidents' Athletic Conference Teams at the meet.

Freshman Erin Belveal (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay) was the Jackets' No. 2 finisher, taking 32nd overall in 21:12.79. Sophomore Taylor Severt (Howard, Ohio / East Knox) added a 43rd-place effort in 21:34.37, followed by junior Chloe Fields (Linesville, Pa. / Conneaut) in 56th (22:37.18) and freshman Lauryn Jones (Somerset, Pa. / Rockwood Area) in 65th (23:07.02).

Sophomore Amber Sallee (Bentleyville, Pa. / Bentworth) and freshman Olivia Dirk (Pleasant Hills, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) provided displacement at 73rd (23:34.66) and 80th (24:17.38), respectively. Freshman Ella Whysong (New Paris, Pa. / Chestnut Ridge) and sophomore Madison Bidniuk (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg Area) rounded out the lineup in 81st (24:22.36) and 98th (28:32.39).

Waynesburg returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Bethany Invitational in Bethany, W.Va.