Women's Cross Country Makes History as Team Advances to NCAA Championships for First Time in Program History; Four Runners Earn All-Region Honors

HOPKINTON, N.H. - Thomas Jefferson University women's cross country looked to use their top-seven Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) placements from the CACC Championships as momentum when they raced in the NCAA East Region Championships. The Rams didn't look back and just ran forward, seeing four runners secure All-Region honors and take a third place finish. This gives Jefferson an automatic-qualifying bid to the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history as a team.

WHAT HAPPENED 

• Olivia Grahn, the CACC Runner and Rookie of the Year, led the Rams with a seventh place with a 22:14.68 time. She was the highest placing freshman on the day, beating out the next person in her class by 13 seconds. This gave Grahn All-Region honors. 

• Annalee Capuano placed 12th on the day, running a 22:44.47 time. This marks her third All-Region honors, earning that mark in 2022 and 2024. Natalie McFadden joins her teammates in the All-Region discussion as she placed 14th with a 22:50.05 time. Milana Daiute rounds out the All-Region recognition, taking 24th on the day as she ran a 23:23.59 time 

• Hannah Powell just missed the mark, placing 26th with a 23:31.53 time. Sarah Lorenz earned 32nd, running a 23:59.75 on the day. Kylee Black rounded out the Ram runners with a 24:35.51 time that earned her 43rd 

• This is the second time in program history that the Rams earned third in the East Region Championships with the last time being in 2011 (AQ were given to the top-2 in 2011. The teams changed to top-3 after that season). Jefferson did break their lowest point as they earned 77 on the day, breaking their record by 35 points 

• The Rams have had runners make the NCAA Championship before, with Sarah Simonetti making it as an individual twice in 2010 and 2011. This will be the first that the team will all go to the championship site 

TEAM RESULTS 
1. Southern Connecticut State – 44 
2. Robert Wesleyan – 53 
3. Jefferson – 77 

INDIVIDUAL 
7. Olivia Grahn – 22:14.68 *All-Region* 
12. Annalee Capuano – 22L44.47 *All-Region* 
14. Natalie McFadden – 22:50.05 *All-Region* 
24. Milana Daiute – 23:23.59 *All-Region* 
26. Hannah Powell – 23:31.52 
32. Sarah Lorenz – 23:59.75 
43. Kylee Black – 24:35.51 

UP NEXT 
Jefferson will now head to the NCAA Championships as a team on Saturday, November 22 as they travel to the University of Wisconsin-Parskide in Kenosha, WI for the final race of the season.