Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Women's Cross Country Finds Treat with Second Place Finish at the 2025 Patriot League Championships
10/31/2025 3:51:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's cross country team finished second and recorded its best Patriot League Championships finish since 2019 (also second place) on blustery Friday afternoon at Lehigh. Shaelan McNally headlined the Orange & Blue effort in the 6k race with her runner-up placement. Four Bison slotted on the All-League Teams; McNally and Kailey Granger earned First Team honors, and Katie Moncavage and Caryn Rippey made Second Team.
Army won the event by notching four of the top five spots. The Black Knights scored 21 points, followed by Bucknell's 48 and Navy's 99. Boston University tallied 120 for fourth place with host Lehigh in fifth (136). Lafayette placed sixth (193), trailed by American (199), Holy Cross (203), Colgate (232), and Loyola (Md.) (293).
Results
"I was very proud of our women's team today," said head coach Kevin Donner. "This was our best race of the year and they ran with a lot of heart and grit. It is the first time on the podium since 2019 and it is great to have four All-League people. Very proud of McNally, who is having a great season after a rough freshman year. She was runner-up and I believe she has a nice shot for All-Region in two weeks. Granger had her best race of the season and so did Moncavage to earn All-League. Rippey showed a lot of grit the last mile to move up quite a bit and earn her second straight All-League award. Weldon had a super race to be our fifth runner and she just missed All-League. Army ran a super race and were obviously the best team in the league, but we were really the only team who was able to break them up."
McNally raced 20:39.8 to win silver. The sophomore runner led early before Army's senior Charlotte Richman sped ahead for the lead. McNally finished strong and prevented a surging Black Knight from swiping second. Second is the highest placement for a Bison runner since Ashlyn Ramos won the 2020-21 Patriot League Championships.
Captain Granger led her troops by example and finished sixth, running 21:05.5. The junior sat tenth at the one-mile mark before moving up four spaces. Granger improved upon her 12th place 2024 Second Team All-League finish.
Sophomore Moncavage had been a pleasant surprise all year and she continued her ascendance into one of Bucknell's best runners with a tenth-place finish. She ran 21:17.4.
Senior Rippey battled through the rough conditions to unlock 13th. At the second mile mark, Rippey sat 25th before rallying for 12 spots with a time of 21:20.6.
The Bison, entering the race, needed a substantial contribution from a fifth runner for any chance at the top two and Bradley Weldon delivered the contribution. She sat at 36th after the first mile and by the second mile, the junior runner was 19th. She finished 17th, running 21:28.0.
Bucknell's future is bright with four out of its runners returning while four of Army's top distancewomen graduate.
The Orange & Blue will rest and celebrate its second-place finish before returning to Bethlehem in two weeks for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals.
2025 Patriot League Cross Country Women's Major Awards
Women's Outstanding Performer of the Meet: Charlotte Richman, Army West Point, Sr.
Women's Rookie of the Meet: Shealyn Brochu, American University, Fr.
Women's Coaching Staff of the Meet: Army West Point (Head Coach Mike Smith)
2025 Patriot League Cross Country Women's Championship Team Results
1. Army West Point, 21
2. Bucknell, 48
3. Navy, 99
4. Boston University, 120
5. Lehigh, 136
6. Lafayette, 193
7. American, 199
8. Holy Cross, 203
9. Colgate, 232
10. Loyola Maryland, 293
First-Team All-Patriot League (Women): 1. Charlotte Richman, Army West Point, Sr.; 2. Shaelan McNally, Bucknell, So.; 3. Mikayla Cheney, Army West Point, Jr.; 4. Louisa Diamond, Army West Point, Jr.; 5. Alma Lazo Cazares, Army West Point, So.; 6. Kailey Granger, Bucknell, Jr.; 7. Siena Brunetti, Holy Cross, Jr.
Second-Team All-Patriot League (Women): 8. Claire Lewis, Army West Point, Sr.; 9. Jane Phillips, Navy, So.; 10. Kate Moncavage, Bucknell, So.; 11. Grace Hughes, Lehigh, Jr.; 12. Lexi Ensor, Navy, Jr.; 13. Caryn Rippey, Bucknell, Sr.; 14. Shealyn Brochu, American, Fr.
Players Mentioned
