NEWPORT, R.I. (Sunday, August 18, 2024)-- Salve Regina University welcomes the women's cross country team back to campus as they prepare for a slate of eight races this fall.

The 2024 fall season marks the Salve Regina and the women's cross country team's second season in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). The action will begin at Wellesley College on Friday, August 30, at the Nehoiden Golf Club. This will be followed up with a race on Saturday, September 7, at Trinity College in Manchester, Connecticut at Wickham Park.

Last year the team began the season at the Suffolk Short Course Classic, with the top Salve Regina finisher Isabella Hastings (Grantham, N.H.) crossing the 3k finish line in 12:08.6. The next fastest Seahawk, Anna Weygang (Farmington, Conn.) finished in 12:23.7. Hastings became the third Salve Regina athlete in program history to qualify for NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships.

Weygang and Hastings, both freshman for the 2023-24 academic year led the way for Seahawk runners. In the spring season Weygang went on to break the school record in the 5000m race with a time of 18:36.83. The relay of Hastings, Weygang, Catherine Minegar (Old Saybrook, Conn.) and Avery Braccia (Bristol, Conn.) crushed a nine-year standing school record in the 4x800m meter relay in 9:52.23.

Quoting Coach Gallo: "The women's team is gearing to improve their standing in the conference. Looking to top returners Isabella Hastings, Anna Weygang, and Avery Braccia to lead the team in scorers. The strong core of returners --Catherine Minegar, Sarah Hauptman, Bre Shipman-- and first year runners --Christia Assi and Kamryn Lynch-- will round out the scoring."
To come full circle, the regular season will end at the same venue it started at in Wellesley, Massachusetts on Saturday, October 26 at the NEWMAC Championships. The team will also have the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Regionals in Waterford, Connecticut at Harkness Memorial State Park on Monday, November 11.

View the women's cross country 2024 schedule here.