LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Nov. 8, 2026) – The Thomas Jefferson University women's cross country team continued its seemingly annual dominance over the CACC on Sunday, sweeping the first five individual positions to post a perfect score of 15 and capture the CACC Championship at Ocean County Park.
The Rams earned their fourth consecutive conference championship and 16th of all time, while recording a perfect 15-point score for the second straight season. This year's CACC Championship also makes it 11 in the last 12 for the Rams. Jefferson's five scorers combined for a time of 1:34:31 and averaged 18:54 over the 5K course.
Jefferson's unprecedented dominance at the conference level was co-opted once again by sophomore Olivia Grahn (Stockholm, Sweden / Stockholms Idrottsgymnasium), who successfully defended her individual CACC crown, winning the race in a 5K PR of 17:09.5. Grahn lowered the personal best of 17:17.3 she established at the Haverford Invitational and crossed the line exactly two minutes ahead of the next finisher. That time is also a CACC Championship record in the women's 5K. Fellow Ram Sarah Simonetti '12, a CACC and Jefferson Athletics Hall of Famer, held the previous meet record, 18:43, for 15 years prior.
Senior Natalie McFadden (Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan) followed in second place with a time of 19:09.7, giving Jefferson the first two runners across the finish line. Sophomore Milana Daiute (Drums, Pa. / Hazelton Area) made it three straight Rams by taking third in 19:15.8. Senior Hannah Powell (Philadelphia, Pa. / Central) continued the Jefferson sweep with a fourth-place finish and 5K PR of 19:16.0. Powell improved by 14.1 seconds from her previous best of 19:30.1 at this year's Haverford Invitational.
Junior Sarah Lorenz (Springfield, Pa. / Cardinal O'Hara) completed Jefferson's perfect team score by taking fifth overall with a 5K PR of 19:40.7. Lorenz, a nominee for the CACC Championship Scholar Award, cut 30.1 seconds from her previous collegiate best of 20:10.8.
Freshman Hayley Holland gave Jefferson six runners among the first 12 finishers, placing 12th in 20:23.7. Senior Oriah Diebold (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown STEM Academy) rounded out the Rams' championship lineup in 20th with a time of 21:34.0.
Collectively, the Rams also became the first CACC women's program to reach the NCAA Division II National Championships last season and will now turn their attention towards a further postseason push in the weeks to come. Head Coach Joe Dare and the Rams will head to Bethpage Polo Grounds in Bethpage, N.Y. on Saturday, November 21 for the NCAA Division II East Regional Championships where they will look to make further history.
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