The fifth-ranked Middlebury women’s cross country team begins its 2026 campaign when it entertains the 15th annual Aldrich Invitational on Saturday, September 12. The Panthers look to build off runner-up finishes at the NESCAC and NCAA Mideast Regional Championships. Middlebury made its 28th appearance on the national stage in 29 campaigns, claiming its highest spot on the final leaderboard since 2018 with an eighth-place finish. Lulu Baker and Stephanie Renouf will serve as team captains.

The program returns five runners from last season’s NCAA Championship lineup while welcoming seven first-year athletes into the fold. 

Audrey MacLean comes off a record-breaking campaign. The Panther became the second athlete in program history to take home the individual national title with a career-best 6K time of 20:16.8. She claimed the NESCAC’s Most Outstanding Performer and a first-team selection after breaking the tape at 20:47.8 during the conference meet to go alongside all-region praise. Claire Palmer excelled in her initial season, claiming All-American honors with a 23rd-place finish (21:38.3) at the national meet. She earned the conference’s rookie of the year and an All-NESCAC First Team nod after crossing the line third during the NESCAC Championships.

Shea Fajen and MK Cestaro provide valuable championship experience to the squad. Fajen clocked a career-best 6K effort of 22:07.7 at the NESCAC Championships and earned United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region accolades. Cestaro reset her personal-best clocking (21:54.3) at the conference meet and logged all-region accolades with her 18th-place finish at the Mideast Regional.

Grace Kaelber tallied a collegiate-best time of 22:25.0 at the NESCAC Championships. Renouf competed in seven invites a season ago, securing a personal best of 22:41.3 at the Paul Short Run.

Wilkerson enters her 16th season leading the Panthers, while assistant coach Bruce Ingersoll returns for his 10th fall. The program has four individual NESCAC Champions and six top-10 finishes at the national event under Wilkerson’s tenure.