The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced the 2025 Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll today and the Bald Eagles were selected to finish in the top-10. Lock Haven is set to open the 2025 season on Friday, Sept. 5 when they host Penn State for the annual Dolan Duals at the West Branch Cross Country Course.

2025 PSAC Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll

Slippery Rock was picked as the favorite in the 2025 PSAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league office announced Tuesday.

The Rock collected 10 first-place votes to edge out East Stroudsburg, which received six and finished second. Shippensburg, earning one first-place nod, was slated third. Kutztown and Bloomsburg rounded out the top five.

Millersville was selected sixth, followed by West Chester, Edinboro and Lock Haven. Gannon completed the top 10.

The poll included Indiana (Pa.) in 11th, Clarion in 12th and California (Pa.) in 13th. Pitt-Johnstown was tabbed 14th, followed by Seton Hill, Mansfield and Shepherd.

Lock Haven will serve as host for multiple meets, including the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championships on Nov.8.

Head Coach Aaron Russell

The 2025-26 academic year marks Russell’s 28th overall as a track & field coach at Lock Haven. He’s also the head men’s and women’s cross country coach.

A look back at 2024

Kaydence Strange and Aubrey Sechrist both ran to All-Conference honors to lead the way for the Lock Haven women’s cross country team at the 2024 PSAC Championship.

Both Strange and Sechrist ran to Second Team All-PSAC Honors by way of Top-30 (*16-30) finishes. Strange finished 23rd in 23:27.3 (6K) and Schrist was 27th in 23:35.3.

Lock Haven hosted the 2024 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship. Sechrist again led the way for Lock Haven. She finished 34th of 160, and covered the 6K course in 22:15.6.

Strange finished 43rd for Lock Haven in 22:23.9, while Nicole Carroll placed 70th in 22:53.9.

Newcomers to the program

The Bald Eagles welcomed six newcomers to the program in 2025, including four freshman and two transfers from Pennsylvania.

2025 PSAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll

1. Slippery Rock (10)

2. East Stroudsburg (6)

3. Shippensburg (1)

4. Kutztown

5. Bloomsburg

6. Millersville

7. West Chester

8. Edinboro

9. Lock Haven

10. Gannon

11. IUP

12. Clarion

13. California

14. Pitt-Johnstown

15. Seton Hill

16. Mansfield

17. Shepherd

2025 LHU Women’s Cross Country Schedule

Sep. 5: Dolan Duals vs. Penn State, Lock Haven

Sep. 13: Br. John “Paddy” Doyle Meet of Champions, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Sep. 27: Lock Haven Invitational, Lock Haven.

Oct. 11: Highlander Invitational, Houghton, N.Y.

Oct. 18: Aubrey Shenk Invitational, Gettysburg

Oct. 25: PSAC Championship, Edinboro

Nov. 1: Go Fast River Run, Lock Haven

Nov. 8: NCAA DII Atlantic Region Championships, Lock Haven