John Carroll Claims 2026 NCAC Women’s Cross Country Crown

OBERLIN, OH – John Carroll captured the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday, October 31, in Oberlin, Ohio. The Blue Streaks finished with a total of 21 points to claim their first NCAC women’s cross country crown.
 
Defending champion Ohio Wesleyan took second in the team standings with 48 points, followed by Denison (89), DePauw (114) and Kenyon (130) to round out the top five. Oberlin (137) placed sixth, Wittenberg (197) finished seventh and Wooster (226) came in eighth.
 
John Carroll junior Anne Rea (Akron, OH/Akron/St. Vincent/St. Mary) captured the 2026 NCAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year honor after leading the Blue Streaks to a strong team showing. Rea, who placed fifth last season, claimed her first individual NCAC title by outpacing the field by more than 18 seconds, crossing the line in 21:20.8.
 
John Carroll sophomore Sam Goodnough (Olmsted Falls, OH/Olmsted Falls) and graduate student Morgan Dobos (Copley, OH/Revere) finished in second (21:38.9) and third (21:39.9), as Goodnough improved 11 spots from last year and Dobos improved by eight. Ohio Wesleyan senior Sophie Cotts (Granville, OH/Granville) took fourth in 21:48.0 after a 10th-place finish last season. After a 32nd-place finish in 2025, Denison sophomore Shaylee Murdough (Contoocook, NH/Hopkinton Middle) placed fifth in 21:51.8, while Ohio Wesleyan senior Brianna Montgomery (Gibsonburg, OH/Gibsonburg) earned her second-consecutive All-NCAC First Team honor with a sixth-place finish in 21:57.5 and John Carroll junior Kylie Bennington (Avon Lake, OH/Avon Lake) rounded out the top seven in 22:01.6 after missing out in all-conference honors last season with a 23rd place finish.
 
Denison first-year Maggie Jewell (Mercer, PA/Mercer Area Senior) posted the top individual finish by a student-athlete in their first year of collegiate competition to capture the 2026 NCAC Women's Newcomer of the Year honor, finishing in 14th (22:17.3).    
 
John Carroll claimed 2026 Coaching Staff of the Year honors, the first NCAC women’s cross country coaching award in program history. The Blue Streaks are led by Head Coach Steve Fuelling, Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Daniel Tutskey, assistant coach Jamie Dailey and volunteer assistant coach Bryce Basista.

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