WAYNESBURG, Pa. (March 21) – The Waynesburg University women's outdoor track & field team features a nice blend of veteran returners and talented newcomers as they prepare for the 2026 campaign. Veteran head coach Chris Hardie is hoping that formula leads to a move up the standings at the annual Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships.
 
The Yellow Jackets are led by senior Grace Tanksley (Beford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence), who will be looking to cap an outstanding collegiate career in both cross country and on the track. Last year, she won the PAC title in the 10K to pace her teammates in Morgantown.
 
She is joined freshman Erin Belveal (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay) and sophomore Alexis Hepburn (Etters, Pa. / Red Land) as distance runners that will be relied upon to find points in the longer races.
 
Coach Hardie is excited about the potential of sophomore Taylor Severt (Howard, Ohio / East Knox) making an impact in the steeplechase, an event that in which Waynesburg has traditionally produced strong individual performers.
 
While Tanksley paced Waynesburg a year ago, the unquestioned star of the team's trip to the recent 2026 PAC Indoor Championships was junior Ella Rishell (Montgomery County, Md. / Watkins Mill). Rishell showcased her athleticism and competitive spirit by finding the podium in the 400 meters (third place), 200 meters (fourth), 4x400 (fifth) and triple jump (fifth). She also competed in the long jump.
 
Rishell was joined by senior Ella Boothe (Fredericktown, Pa. / Beth-Center), junior JaLisa Fuller (Latrice, Ind. / Lawrence Central) and freshman Adaire Settles (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) in the 4x400.
 
All four members of the quartet will also be expected to bring scoring potential in the sprints. Hardie added that Settles could do the same in the 400-meter hurdles.
 
Waynesburg will have another strong presence in the sprints thanks to freshman Miracle Hershey (Lebanon County, Pa. / New Covenant Christian). Hershey, who took fifth in the 60-meter dash at the indoor championships, will be counted upon to be the Orange and Black's top performer in the 100 meters and complement Rishell in the 200.
 
Moving to the field events, Waynesburg is excited to see what junior Natalie Double (Portersville, Pa. / Slippery Rock) can do in the javelin after she won PAC bronze in 2025. Junior Peyton Kuhns (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) adds valuable depth in the event.
 
Freshman Carina Deering (Etters, Pa. / Red Land) looks to be Waynesburg's top option in the shot put after placing third this winter at the Ohio Wesleyan University Open. Sophomore Gabriella Chico (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) could also gather some valuable points in the throws.
 
The name to keep an eye on in the jump pits is freshman Daniella Holley (Barnegat, N.J. / Barnegat), who made a name for herself in the high jump during indoor competition.
 
The Jackets open outdoor competition this weekend at West Virginia University's Pushkin Invitational.