2025 NCAC Women's Cross Country Champions
GAMBIER, OH – Ohio Wesleyan captured the 2025 North Coast Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Gambier, Ohio. The Battling Bishops finished with a total of 43 points to claim their first NCAC championship crown.
John Carroll took second in the team standings with 53 points, followed by DePauw (66), Wittenberg (133) and Kenyon (145) to round out the top five. Denison (158) placed sixth, Oberlin (163) finished seventh and Wooster (228) came in eighth.
Ohio Wesleyan junior Zoe Ward (Columbus, OH/Worthington Christian) captured the 2025 NCAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year honor after leading the Battling Bishops to a strong team showing. Ward, who placed third last season, claimed her first individual NCAC title by outpacing the field by more than 16 seconds, crossing the line in 22:10.9.
Kenyon senior Anna Brown (South Dartmouth, MA/Concord Academy) finished second in 22:27.4, while Ohio Wesleyan junior Brianna Montgomery (Gibsonburg, OH/Gibsonburg) placed third in 22:33.8. Both runners earned their first career All-NCAC honors. Wittenberg senior Emma Hawk (Marion, OH/River Valley) improved three spots from last year to finish fourth (22:39.6) and John Carroll sophomore Anne Rea (Akron, OH/Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary) crossed in fifth (22:40.7). DePauw senior Grace Thomas (Valparaiso, IN/Valparaiso), the 2023 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, moved up from 12th last season to sixth this year in 22:44.5. Wittenberg junior Maddi Clark(Mentor, OH/Mentor) rounded out the top seven, earning her second-consecutive All-NCAC first-team honor in 22:50.9.
Ohio Wesleyan first-year Hope Morris (Upper Sandusky, OH/Upper Sandusky) posted the top individual finish by a student-athlete in their first year of collegiate competition to capture the 2025 NCAC Women's Newcomer of the Year honor after finishing in 14th (23:19.1).
Ohio Wesleyan claimed the 2025 Coaching Staff of the Year honors, the first women’s coaching award in program history. The Battling Bishops are led by Head Coach Ben Carlson and Director of Cross Country Kris Boey.