PAC Release

TRAFFORD, Pa. -- The defending Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) champions from the Allegheny College women's cross country team won a narrow vote to finish first in the annual PAC preseason coaches' poll.

The top five teams in the poll were separated by only 12 points, and three teams received at least three first-place votes. Allegheny was selected as the favorite to win the PAC again in 2025 with 105 total points and four first-place votes. Last year's runner-up, Grove City College, was not far behind in second with 101 points and three first-place votes.

Geneva College, which tied Allegheny for the most first-place votes with four, had 97 points and beat Saint Vincent College (96) by a single point for third place. Washington and Jefferson College rounded out the top five with 93 points.

Allegheny is scheduled to host this year's PAC Championships at the Robertson Athletic Complex on Saturday, November 1.

In addition to the preseason poll, the PAC announced its runners to watch for the upcoming season. A trio of Allegheny student-athletes were highlighted, including returning All-PAC Honorable Mention Shyann Rulander (Warren, Pa./Warren). Rulander was joined by fellow junior Samantha Oakes (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) and sophomore Sophia Shiroff (Denver, Colo./Denver East).

The women's cross country team opens the 2025 season at the Doug Watts Open at PennWest Edinboro on Saturday, September 6, at noon.