HOPKINTON, N.H. - The Norwich University women's cross country team continued its steady progression through the 2026 campaign on Friday afternoon, placing seventh overall at the Hopkinton Cross Country Festival - College/Open division, hosted at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds.
Dropping back to the five-kilometer distance after consecutive 6K races, the Cadets totaled 192 points in a deep 14-team scoring field. Norwich posted a five-runner team time of 1:47:29 and averaged 21:30 across its scoring group, with just 1:38 separating the Cadets' first and fifth finishers.
Freshman Ava Dillon (Erie, Colo.) continued her impressive first collegiate season by leading Norwich for the fourth consecutive meet.
Dillon crossed 14th overall in the 136-runner field, completing the 5K in 20:17.0. Her performance came just five days after a fourth-place, top-rookie finish at the GNAC Preview and gave Norwich another strong result at the front of its lineup.
Norwich then produced an especially tight pack across its second through sixth runners.
Freshman Haley Mitchell (APO, Armed Forces Pacific) finished second for the Cadets and 53rd overall in 21:39.4, while junior Delaney Whitmarsh (North Yarmouth, Maine) followed three places later in 21:47.1.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Moore (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) was next across in 58th at 21:51.0, with sophomore Ally Teitsch (Malta, N.Y.) completing the scoring five just two places later in 21:54.2.
Freshman Anna Barlow (Kingston, N.H.) finished immediately behind Teitsch, crossing 61st overall in 21:55.3. Only 15.9 seconds separated Mitchell through Barlow, giving Norwich five runners packed closely together behind Dillon.
Sophomore Ellery Shertzer (Conowingo, Md.) rounded out Norwich's top seven in 74th with a time of 22:41.6. Freshman Isabella Rafter (Glastonbury, Conn.) and senior Joelle Moore (Swanton, Ohio) also competed, finishing in 23:13.6 and 23:23.8, respectively.
"The Norwich XC teams competed very well today with some good competition on a fast course," said Head Coach Michael McGrane.  "We're finally hitting our stride after some early season illnesses and injuries. I'm really proud of the women today with very good packing running. Our 2nd through 5th scoring runners were only 15 seconds apart with Ava leading with a top 15 finish. On the men's side, Leo continued to perform well with a new personal best and just missing a top ten finish. The men were also strong with their pack running keeping it tight between our 3rd through 7th scoring runners. Overall, good improvement with a short rest from the meet just five days earlier."
Brandeis University captured the team championship with 37 points after placing each of its first four runners among the top four overall. Saint Anselm College followed with 66 points and Suffolk University took third with 76, while Emmanuel College (Mass.), Saint Joseph's College of Maine, and Franklin Pierce University finished immediately ahead of Norwich.
Brandeis senior Sadie Harrow claimed the individual title in 18:37.5, leading a one-through-four sweep at the front of the race for the Judges.
WOMEN'S LEADERS:
Norwich will wrap up its regular-season schedule on Saturday, Oct. 17, competing at the Golden Bear Festival, hosted by Western New England University at Southwood Field in Springfield, Mass. The women's 5K is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
Following the regular-season finale, the Cadets will have two weeks to prepare for the GNAC Championships on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Colby-Sawyer College's Morris Trail.
