STORRS, Conn.- As the calendar flips to November, UConn women's cross country will turn the page to championship season, as the Huskies race in the BIG EAST Championships in Leesburg, Virginia. The 6K race begins at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, November 1st, hosted by defending conference champion Georgetown University.
The Huskies have put together strong individual and team performances in the 2024 cross country season. Coming into BIG EAST championships, the Huskies are fifth in the Northeast Region. Senior Chloe Thomas has been front and center for the UConn individual success. Thomas has set multiple meet records this season, first at the Spiked Shoe Invitational in September (19:51), then following that performance up with another individual win and record (19:23 in the 6K race) in the Paul Short Run that earned her USTFCCA Women's National Athlete of the Week honors (10/7). In her most recent performance, the Ontario native finished 5th on the biggest stage of the season thus far, running a 19:11 6K time at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals in Madison, the fastest of her collegiate career.
The Huskies behind Thomas have made this season a true team effort. Jenna Zydanowicz has put together multiple top 5 finishes, crossing the line in 4th at the Spiked Shoe and 5th in the Paul Short. Caroline Towle set a PR in the Paul Short 6K at 20:14, good enough for an individual finish of 9th in the race. Malin Rahm and Chloe Trudel have been the primary fourth and fifth runners for UConn this season, with Trudel also earning a PR in the Paul Short (21:05).
As a team, the Huskies finished fourth at the Spiked Shoe, and second at the Paul Short. In the smaller meets, UConn has had strong squad finishes as well, placing second in the Marist Season Opener and winning the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup in New Hampshire (10/11).
Last season, the Huskies finished 4th at the BIG EAST Championships, with Thomas finishing in 7th overall as the top finisher for UConn. Historically, the Huskies finished as high as 2nd in 2012 for their highest team finish. Individually, the highest finish UConn has had at the BIG EAST Championships was a 4th place finish from Jillian Sullivan in 2006. This race preview will outline the top teams and runners in the BIG EAST to watch for on Friday.
Quote from Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Beth Alford-Sullivan: "This women's race has the potential to be historic from the team outcome to the front runner's race. What a great time to be part of this great conference competition."
Georgetown (Mid-Atlantic Region)
The Hoyas, who come in ranked #9 in the USTFCCA poll and #1 in the Mid-Atlantic Region, are the hosts for the championships. Georgetown are the three-time defending Mid-Atlantic Regional champions, winning the BIG EAST last season as well. The Hoyas are led by standout runner and Connecticut native Chloe Scrimgeour, a five time All-American. Scrimgeour finished second in the Princeton Fall Classic earlier this season with a time of 19:23 in 6K. Georgetown's top runner comes in as the defending individual BIG EAST champ last season, leading the Hoyas to team win at 2023 Championships. Scrimgeour finished eighth overall in nationals to earn All-American honors. Georgetown has depth behind Scrimgeour, with Stanford transfer Lucy Jenks, who finished 4th in Princeton this season, and secured fifth place last season in the 2023 Pac-12 Championships. Melissa Riggins is the third runner for the Hoyas, finishing 8th in Princeton and 3rd last season in BIG EAST championships
Providence (Northeast Region)
Providence is in #12 in the national poll, #1 in the Northeast Region. The Friars had a very successful season in 2023, finishing 2nd as a team at the BIG EAST Championships 3rd in the Northeast regionals. These performances were strong enough to lift Providence to a NCAA Championship team qualification.
Providence's top runner is Kimberely May. May finished in second place in BIG EAST and Northeast Regionals last season, carrying that momentum over to this season with a win in the Princeton Classic with a time of 19:16. Similar to Georgetown, the Friars have a mix of transfers and returners in their top runners. Alex Millard, a transfer from Loughborough University, comes in with championship experience, a member of the bronze medal Great Britain Mixed Relay Team at World XC Championships. Millard was fifth in Princeton. Returner Shannon Flockhart is the third member of a strong core for Providence, finishing ninth last season at the BIG EAST championships, and 13th in the Northeast Regionals.
Villanova (Mid-Atlantic Region)
Nova is #27 in the national poll and #4 in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Wildcats finished 3rd last season in the BIG EAST championships, with two national qualifying runners pacing the team.
Sadie Sigfstead finished 4th in the BIG EAST last season and was crowned Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion last season. Sigfstead was 9th in Princeton this season. The other half of the Wildcat dynamic duo, Emma McGill was 5th in BIG EAST and 4th in Mid-Atlantic Regionals.
Follow Along: The women's and men's cross country championship races streamed live on the BIG EAST Digital Network available on FloSports. UConn updates will be found on X, Instagram, and Facebook @UConnxctf. The live results can be accessed at this link: https://results.windsorrunning.com/meets/40716/events/xc/1517929
Players Mentioned
Players Mentioned
Latest Women's Cross Country
- Thomas and Zydanowicz Lead Huskies in Northeast RegionalHOPKINTON, NH- For the last four years, Chloe Thomas has rewritten the UConn history books. Coming into the cross country season, she had put together one of the most decorated careers in the program's history. On Friday morning, she continued her historic 2024 season with something that no Husky has ever done before.
- Cross Country Toes Line in Northeast RegionalsSTORRS, Conn.- After an excellent individual and team showing on November 1st at the BIG EAST Championships, UConn cross country will take their talents back to Hopkinton, New Hampshire for the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships Friday morning. The Huskies competed and won the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup earlier this season in Hopkinton and are eager to replicate this success on Friday.
- Top Dog: Chloe Thomas Wins BIG EAST Championship, First in UConn HistoryLEESBURG, VA.- Chloe Thomas has been making history for UConn cross country all season long. It was only fitting that she rewrote the history books at least one more time on Friday morning at the BIG EAST Championships, becoming the BIG EAST Individual Champion in UConn history.
- Cross Country Competes In Pre-Nationals Invitational Saturday MorningMADISON, Wi.- UConn women's cross country competed in their last race before the BIG EAST Championships on Saturday morning at the Pre-Nationals Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin.
- Cross Country Races in Pre-Nationals Invitational in MadisonSTORRS, Conn.- UConn Cross Country will look to keep up the strong momentum from their last two races, as they head to Madison, Wisconsin for the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals on Saturday, October 19th at the Zimmer Championship Course.
- Women's Cross Country Wins Bruce Kirsh XC Cup Friday AfternoonHOPKINTON, N.H.- UConn Women's cross country took care of business at the 12th annual Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup on Friday afternoon, securing the top spot in team finish for the 6K race.
