The Waynesburg University women’s cross country team competed in the Allegheny Classic in Meadville this past weekend. They placed in the middle of the pack, coming in fourth out of seven teams in the field.

The Jackets faced strong completion this past weekend that featured Allegheny College, Carnegie Mellon University and Case Western University, who are all nationally ranked, as well as a strong Division II competitor in Gannon University.

With numerous high-level competitors there, head coach Chris Hardie believed that his team could still place top five at the meet.

“One of our goals was to knock off one of the top teams there,” Hardie said. “If not, at least close the gap on the nationally ranked schools.”

The team was successful in completing that goal.

After sitting out his top seven runners at the previous meet for strategic reasons, Hardie was happy with the individual performances.

“Overall I think that plan worked, they seemed to have fresh legs and they reached their individual goal,” he said.

The fresh legs didn’t last long, however, due to the nature of the course, as well as the weather conditions.

“At the end of the race it seemed like the hills and the heat got to them, making them tired and exhausted,” Hardie said.

Since the Westminster meet, where Hardie rested the top seven runners, the Jackets have cut down their spread time, which ranged from the first runner to the fifth runner in the top seven.

As season goes on, Hardie said he is gaining more confidence in his young team.

One athlete that stood out in the meet is freshman Aubrey Wingeart. Wingeart was the top finisher on the team, crossing the finish line with a time of 18:59, putting her in ninth place overall in the event.

“Taking top 10 in a nationally ranked race is really good—it shows us what she’s got,” said Hardie.

Another key first-year performer is sophomore Nicole Shelton. Shelton posted a time of 19:38, which got her twentieth place. To finish out the top three Yellow Jacket performers, senior Teghan Simonton crossed shortly after Shelton in 23rd place with a time of 19:43.

Despite being a freshman, Aubrey Wingeart wasn’t intimated by the stiff competition.

“The Division II schools didn’t bother me,” Wingeart said. “But I definitely wanted to go out and try to get some of the nationally ranked schools. I stuck with the game plan and decreased time as the race went on.”

This is the second time the freshman led the pack for Waynesburg.

The women’s team has done well to start the season, despite some key runners still finding their rhythm after coming back from injury.

“Kat Thompson, Megan Studebaker, Mary Beth Cunningham and Becca Volz all competed but are slowly coming off an injury,” Hardie said.

While looking to the future, Hardie reflects on how courses like Allegheny contribute in not just competition, but for practice as well.

“The hills on the course represent our regional course very well,” said Hardie.

With the team’s history, it is important for runners to be prepared for the future and have experience in difficult courses.

The Yellow Jackets will continue their season hosting the Waynesburg Invitational at the Greene County Airport on Saturday, Sept. 22.