The 25th-ranked Middlebury women’s cross country team begins its 2025 slate at the Silloway Maple Syrup Invitational on Saturday, September 6. The Panthers claimed a fourth-place finish in last fall’s NESCAC Championship before earning fifth at the NCAA Mideast Regional. The squad was awarded its 27th trip to the national invite in the last 28 seasons. The program returns five runners from last season’s NCAA lineup, while adding six first-year runners into the fold.

In her second NCAA Championship race, Audrey MacLean recorded a sixth-place finish (21:10.8) and received All-American honors. She was named the NESCAC’s Most Outstanding Performer and a first-team selection after clocking a personal-best time of 20:21.15 over the 6K course to become Middlebury’s first individual conference champion since 2016. Victoria Fawcett provides a veteran presence as a team captain after posting a personal-best 6K clocking of 21:38.3 in last year’s conference meet to earn a 22nd-place finish.

Shea Fajen and MK Cestaro also carry championship experience into the campaign. Fajen looks to improve on a rookie slate that saw her shave over a minute from her first collegiate 6K to a personal record at the Lehigh Paul Short Run (22:20.0). Cestaro recorded her career-best time at the NESCAC Championship, crossing the line at 22:21.6 before claiming 37th at the regional championship. 

Caroline VanSchaick also posted her best collegiate time at the league meet (22.23.3). Stephanie Renouf competes for a spot among the Middlebury seven after posting a personal clocking of 22:55.5 during her first Connecticut College Invitational.

Wilkerson enters her 15th season leading the Panthers, while Bruce Ingersoll returns for his ninth fall with the program. Under Wilkerson’s guidance, the program has three individual NESCAC Champions and five top-10 finishes at the national invite.