The men’s and women’s cross-country teams concluded their seasons at the Mid-Atlantic NCAA Regional meet this past weekend in Lock Haven.

The men’s team finished the season in 28th place at regionals. Freshman Aidan McGee was the first to cross the finish line for the team, placing 164th out of 216 runners. Junior Kyle Casella followed, with freshman Ethan Wilson crossing third for the Jackets.

Although the team didn’t finish where they had hoped, head coach Chris Hardie attributed their performance to a challenging year with injuries and fatigue.

“Our top runner, freshman Chris Fox, didn’t run all year due to injury,” Hardie said. “We lost a core group of guys who would have given us more depth. On race day, they were running on fumes; they really hung on to get through regionals.”

Fox missed the season due to a hip injury, while Sterling Mullins and Nicky Todd were sidelined for the back half of the season with separate lower leg injuries. These setbacks prevented the team from competing at the level they had aimed for.

“Honestly, we didn’t do as well as we wanted to,” Wilson said. “Most of us struggled with the transition to the 8k, and the rest were injured. That’s what the season summed up to be.”

Despite the challenges, the team and Hardie are optimistic about building on this season’s experience.

“As a coach, you never want to look ahead,” Hardie said. “But I think all year, we viewed this as a building block for the future.”

Even with the setbacks, the team takes pride in their accomplishments, particularly as a young squad.

“We’re glad to have gained experience and feel optimistic about the future,” Wilson said. “As a team, we want to add talent, help our injured teammates recover and build on our experience from this year.”

The women’s team finished 21st at regionals. Junior Grace Tanksley led the team, finishing 68th place overall. Junior Chloe Fields followed, with senior Jaylene Mundorff rounding out the top three for Waynesburg.

At regionals, the women achieved one season-best with Tanksley and two personal bests from Fields and sophomore Erin DeLong. Hardie noted the drive the women showed to end the season on a strong note.

“I didn’t sense the same tiredness I did with the guys,” Hardie said. “Whatever we did worked well. When they know they are close to a top-20 or top-15 spot, they push through fatigue and exhaustion.”

Looking ahead, Hardie is excited about the women’s potential, as all but one athlete will return for the 2025 season.

“I’m excited. I said it last year, and I’ll say it again: we’re only a runner or two away from being highly competitive,” Hardie said. “The window is closing, because Reagan and Gracie are seniors next year, so 2025 will have to be our year.”

The team also feels optimistic about next season, as Tanksley noted they are prepared for the challenges ahead.

“Once everyone is healed up and we add more runners, we’ll be in a good position next season,” Tanksley said. “We’re planning tougher training next year to help us perform in races like PACs.”

Tanksley has been a top performer all season, and though she didn’t meet her personal goal, Hardie commended her hard work and consistency.

“I just want to acknowledge Gracie’s effort. I know she’s disappointed, but I thought she ran well,” Hardie said. “I think she’ll be proud when she reflects on the season.”

Although Tanksley hoped for more, she’s eager for the next chapter and ready to build on her cross-country experience.

“I didn’t meet my goals this season, which is tough, but sometimes that’s just how it goes,” Tanksley said. “Now it’s time to look forward to track season.”