Cross Country Hosts the Patriot League Championships on Saturday

Saturday, October 31

Lewisburg, Pa.

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

Patriot League Championships

10/29/2026 3:05:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell will attempt to win its seventh men's and 13th women's Patriot League titles on home soil this Saturday when the Orange & Blue hosts the 2026 Patriot League Cross Country Championships. The Bison enter the competition relatively unscathed and run to defend its land. The Bison women finished second at last year's leagues meet and the ladies are ready to reclaim the trophy. The Bison men placed fifth last year and are eager to break into the top three.

The women's 6k race begins at 11 a.m. and the men's 8k competition starts at noon. Bucknell cross country will host an alumni reception after the meet in the Elaine Langone Center's Terrace Room.

When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m. (Women's) | Noon (Men's)
Where: Bucknell Golf Course & West Fields - Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Results: leonetiming.com

Tournament Central

Donner's Debriefing

"We are very excited to be hosting the Patriot League Cross Country Championships this weekend. We will have a nice crowd at the meet and the course is a loop course which makes it very spectator friendly. Both teams are coming off solid meets at the IC4A-ECAC Championships and the Bucknell Open and finishing in the top 3-4 on each side is an attainable goal."

Overview

Bucknell will race at home for the third time this season after not competing once in Lewisburg during the past three campaigns. The Bison men and women won the season opener dual meet against Lafayette and dominated last Friday's unscored Bucknell Open.
The Bison enjoyed a comfortable afternoon at the Bucknell Open. Only Lehigh designated to accept Donner's invitation to see the course.
The Orange & Blue swept the weekly Patriot League awards. Mason Barlow won Men's Runner of the Week and Michael Yardis took home Men's Rookie of the Week. Both awards were the harriers' first weekly awards.
Shaelan McNally earned her fourth Women's Runner of the Week, tying two Bison legends, Christine Bendzinski and Kate Scott, for most in school history. Chesnee Smith landed Women's Rookie of the Week for her first PL laurel.
Bucknell's men have won six Patriot League titles in 1990, '91, '92, '97, '98, '99.
The Bison men have finished second three times (2000, 2001, and 2014) since winning its last crown.
Army and Navy have won every men's title since 2008 except in 2012 when Lehigh grabbed the throne.
Ethan Pratt-Perez is Bucknell's sole All-League returnee. He placed 14th at the 2025 Patriot League Championships. He is aiming for the league title and First Team All-Patriot League honors. Pratt-Perez has paced Bucknell in every competition he has run.
Four Orange & Blue harriers have won the individual title but it hasn't been done since Bryan Johnston in 2002.
Carter Paul (32nd) and Ryan Pepperman (55th) are the other two returning Bucknell scorers from 2025.
The Bison will need David Carillo and rookie Sean Wemmlinger to continue their strong 2026 campaigns. Both runners, when raced, have placed in Bucknell's top five.
The Bison women have won 12 Patriot League titles in 1998, '99, '00, '01, '05, '06, '07, '09, '15, '16, '17, '18. The 12 titles are the most in league history.
Boston claimed the crown in 2019 and 2020-21. Navy won the 2021 and 2022 titles. Army currently owns a three-peat in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The Orange & Blue female harriers have placed second in 2019 and 2025.
Bucknell returns Shaelan McNally. The junior finished second at the 2025 Patriot League Championships. She missed September and early October due to a summer injury but has reclaimed her health.
McNally aims to win the program's 11th individual title and the first since Ashlyn Ramos in 2020-21. Bucknell won five straight from 1997-2001. Julie Sweitzer (Kailey Granger's mother) won the first two and Becki Marshall clinched the last three.
Fate has not been as kind to Bucknell's All-League returner Kailey Granger. The senior captain will miss the championships after her sizzling start to the 2026 season. Granger placed sixth at last year's leagues.
Katie Moncavage is healthy and ready to run. The junior captain has ably stepped up in Granger & McNally's absences. Moncavage finished tenth at the 2025 PL Championships and has her eyes on finishing in the top seven.
Bradley Weldon narrowly missed All-League honors last season when she finished 17th. The senior runner has performed well in every fall competition.

Patriot League Awards

The Patriot League cross country major awards will be distributed following the race and will be determined by the individual finish of the competing student-athletes at the championship. The individual champion of both races will be named the Patriot League Runner of the Year for the men and women. The top-finishing freshman in both races earns Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors. The top-seven finishers in the men's and women's races make the All-Patriot League First Team, with the eighth through 14th-place runners making up the second team. The Patriot League's Men's and Women's Coach of the Year will be voted on by the League's head coaches at the conclusion of both races.

Up Next

Bucknell heads to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals on Nov. 13.