LEBANON, Pa. – St. Mary's College of Maryland captured its sixth consecutive United East Conference Women's Cross Country Championship on Saturday afternoon, edging Cedar Crest College by a single point at Union Canal Tunnel Park in Lebanon, Pa. The Seahawks finished with 62 points, narrowly defeating the Falcons, who totaled 63 points, in a tightly contested team championship.

The Seahawks were led by junior Ella Mitchell, who finished second overall with a time of 23:19.3 on the 6K course. Freshman Maggie Tsambikos placed 13th in 26:42.8, while senior Avery Arizzi followed in 14th with a time of 27:00.6. Senior Madison Kingsley (18th, 27:22.8) and senior Weiya Carter (19th, 27:26.4) rounded out the Seahawks' five scoring runners, helping St. Mary's secure another conference crown.

Cedar Crest delivered an impressive performance of its own, finishing just one point behind the Seahawks. Senior Ryley Schwalm led the Falcons with a record-breaking individual championship performance, while junior Giada Smith placed eighth overall in 24:55.6. Freshmen Carly Dachenhausen (15th, 27:14.2) and Alicia Cruz (16th, 27:18.1) also contributed to the Falcons' runner-up finish.
Schwalm captured the individual championship and United East Runner of the Year honors with a time of 22:11.4, establishing an United East Conference Championship record. The Cedar Crest senior finished 1:07.9 ahead of runner-up Mitchell to claim the individual crown.

Penn State Harrisburg sophomore MaKayla Reichel finished third overall in 23:26.9, while Cairn University senior Clarisse Hayden, the two-time defending individual champion, placed fourth with a time of 23:51.2. Penn State Berks freshman Madelyn Holbrook completed the top five in 24:03.0.

Holbrook's fifth-place finish also earned her 2026 United East Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Year honors. The Penn State Berks freshman was the highest-finishing first-year runner in the championship field, completing the 6K course in 24:03.0 to earn the conference's top rookie distinction.

Lancaster Bible College placed two runners among the top seven, with Seana Dougherty finishing sixth in 24:22.2 and Cadee Cameron taking seventh in 24:49.1. Penn State Berks sophomore Brianna Strittmatter finished ninth in 25:41.1, while Penn College senior Elaina Brady rounded out the top 10 with a time of 25:53.7.

Penn State Harrisburg secured third place in the team standings with 83 points, followed by Lancaster Bible College in fourth with 108 points and Penn State Berks in fifth with 115 points.

St. Mary's College of Maryland head coach Reava Potter was named the 2026 United East Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year after guiding the Seahawks to their sixth consecutive conference championship. Under Potter's leadership, St. Mary's placed five runners among the top 19 overall finishers to secure the team title by the narrowest of margins.

2026 United East Women's Cross Country Team Standings

1. St. Mary's College of Maryland – 62 points
2. Cedar Crest College – 63 points
3. Penn State Harrisburg – 83 points
4. Lancaster Bible College – 108 points
5. Penn State Berks – 115 points
6. Penn College – 124 points
7. Gallaudet University – 169 points
8. Penn State Abington – 180 points
9. Penn State Brandywine – 236 points

Top 8 Individual Finishers

1. Ryley Schwalm, Cedar Crest – 22:11.4
2. Ella Mitchell, St. Mary's (Md.) – 23:19.3
3. MaKayla Reichel, Penn State Harrisburg – 23:26.9
4. Clarisse Hayden, Cairn – 23:51.2
5. Madelyn Holbrook, Penn State Berks – 24:03.0
6. Seana Dougherty, Lancaster Bible – 24:22.2
7. Cadee Cameron, Lancaster Bible – 24:49.1
8. Giada Smith, Cedar Crest – 24:55.6

For complete results and additional championship information, visit the 2026 United East Women's Cross Country Championship Central.

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