Northwestern cross country is gearing up for its first race of the season on Friday, and the team has plenty to be confident about. NU is fresh off one of its most successful seasons in program history. The 'Cats finished 18th at the 2025 NCAA Championships, which marked the program's best finish of the modern era. As the Wildcats strive to continue building on last year's record-breaking campaign, NU enters this season ranked No. 11 in the Preseason National Coaches' Poll, joining three other Big Ten schools in the national rankings.
Here's a comprehensive preview of everything to know about the Wildcats' runners in 2026.
Returners: Maddy Whitman (Gr.), Skye Ellis (Gr.), Erin Boler (Sr.), Ava Criniti (Sr.), Anna Delgado (Sr.), Jackie Holman (Sr.), Maddy Powers (Sr.), Lydia Sommer (Sr.), Kailey Zagst (Sr.), Cary Drake (Jr.), Katherine Klimek (Jr.), Olivia Capala (So.), Allegra Massey (So.), Marley McCullough (So.), Jaya Simmons (So.), Bentley Thomas (So.)
Losses: Ava Earl, Serena Frolli, Mallory Grubb, Anna Hightower, Mia Mraz, Holly Smith, Samree Dishon, Delilah Helenhouse
Additions: Sophie Magson (Gr.), Katie Clute (Sr.), Eliza Nicholson (So.), Kyla Babb (Fr.), Sofia Balistreri (Fr.), Zoe Carroll (Fr.), Ella Goodsell (Fr.), Natalia Guaresimo (Fr.), Elyse Henricksen (Fr.), Isabelle Mahoney (Fr.), Emma Patrick (Fr.), Lauren Virmani (Fr.), Marella Virmani (Fr.), Isabelle Yttre (Fr.)

#maddy #anna