Women's Cross Country Places Third at Patriot League Championships

Saturday, October 31

Lewisburg, Pa.

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

Patriot League Championships

Results

10/31/2026 2:46:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Buoyed by a cohort of alumnae and the ongoing celebration of 50 years of Bucknell women's cross country and overcoming injuries and scratches, the Orange & Blue lady harriers placed third on Saturday morning at the 2026 Patriot League Cross Championships. Bucknell hosted the event and the Bison used its homefield terra firma knowledge to gain a decisive edge on the 6K course. Katie Moncavage and Kerry O'Day earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors.

Results

Moncavage, a team captain, paced Bucknell again, finishing eighth on a personal best time of 20:55.2. The junior runner broke 21 minutes for the first time in her career. She sat 10th at the 1.8k mark but fell back to 13th at 3k. Moncavage moved up to 11th at 3.9k and remained there through at 5.1k. She made her move during the final kick and progressed to eighth to repeat as Second Team All-Patriot League after finishing tenth in 2025.

"I really tried to get out and get in a good position from the start and work with my teammates," Moncavage said. "The energy was insane off the start. The first straightaway, people were screaming and going crazy and that just really brought the energy and made me really enthusiastic and motivated. And then during the second lap, I tried to just keep my pace, kind of stay with my group and not let myself get too far behind. And then the last lap was pretty much just everything I had."

The junior captain has ably stepped up all year after Kailey Granger was lost for the season and injuries hampered Shaelan McNally. She continued her strong lead from the front style on the conference's biggest stage.

"I think I just really wanted to step into the role and give it everything I can," Moncavage continued. "Kailey's been a great help. She's been a really great mentor this year and not having her run with us has been hard, but she's still in a really great spot and she helps us all the time. She's always there, always giving us advice and helping out when she can. So I think just having her there really helps."

Kerry O'Day picked the ideal day for her best race of 2026. The junior runner was right behind her captain, placing ninth and running 20:57.4. O'Day reversed her habit of fading late in races by finishing strong against the conference's best. The harrier sat 20th at the 1.8k mark and kept moving up at each checkpoint to earn her first All-Patriot League designation.

"It feels super surreal," O'Day said. "I feel like this season I've kind of struggled a little bit with that last 1k and 2k. I went in with the mentality that I can work on that last 2k. We know the course so well and just fueling before, doing all the right little things and just getting really excited."

Madeline Kerr has been a sophomore sensation and she added to her breakout season by finishing 19th, clocking 21:16.4. She sat at 37th at 900 meters and kept moving up. Kerr finished 45th at the 2025 Patriot League Championships, and with this finish, will have her eyes firmly set on an All-Patriot League slot in 2027.

Katrina Torelli completed her final Patriot League Championships with a 24th place finish, registering 21:28.7. Torelli mostly transitioned to mid-distance in track & field and did not race at last year's cross country leagues. The switch did not impact her endurance. The senior runner moved up from 44th at 900 meters to her final placement.

Bradley Weldon rounded out the Bison scorers by finishing 26th with a time of 21:31.3. The senior runner sat in the upper 20s for most of the meet, except for a temporary slip to 30, before she regained her previous position.

Bucknell's third place finish was particularly impressive since the Bison were missing All-League runner Kailey Granger and Shaelan McNally, who finished runner-up at the 2025 Patriot League Championships, raced but was not in full form due to injury.

Despite some upcoming graduations, the future is bright for Bucknell women's cross country and Moncavage agrees, "Just continuing off of this, learning every race, and hopefully First Team All-Patriot League next year, but we're getting closer every year, so that's a good sign."

O'Day concurred with her captain, "Just doing this all over again, constantly improving and just really bringing some good vibes to the team, getting everyone pumped up. Leagues at home was so fun, but it'll be fun to do it somewhere else and bringing that same energy."

Army, coached by Bucknell alum Mike Smith, won the women's race with 50 points. Boston finished second with 55 points. Bucknell was third with 84.

Bucknell will rest and refuel for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals on Nov. 13.

2026 Patriot League Cross Country Women's Major Awards
Women's Outstanding Performer of the Meet: Adrienne Buettner-Cable, Boston University, Sr.
Women's Rookie of the Meet: Brianne Duynstee, Navy, Fr.
Women's Coaching Staff of the Meet: Army West Point (Head Coach Mike Smith)

2026 Patriot League Cross Country Women's Championship Team Results
1. Army West Point, 50
2. Boston University, 55
3. Bucknell, 84
4. Lehigh, 126
5. Navy, 143
6. Lafayette, 150
7. Holy Cross, 183
8. Colgate, 190
9. American, 256
10. Loyola Maryland, 286

First-Team All-Patriot League (Women): 1. Adrienne Buettner-Cable Boston University, Sr.; 2. Mikayla Cheney, Army West Point, Sr.; 3. Mia Royall, Army West Point, Sr.; 4. Kendall Collier, Lafayette, Jr.; 5. Kaitlyn Highduch, Lehigh, Jr.; 6. Sammy Seabury, Boston University, Sr.; 7. Caroline Collins, Boston University, Jr.
Second-Team All-Patriot League (Women): 8. Kate Moncavage, Bucknell, Jr.; 9. Kerry O'Day, Bucknell; 10. Eleanor Droege, Colgate Jr.; 11. Anya Kazemi, Lafayette, Jr.; 12. Aluna Coogan-Coyne, Holy Cross, Jr.; 13. Abby Waddington, Boston University, Sr., 14. Abigail Garner, Army West Point, Sr.