ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Cross Country Teams are getting ready to launch their 2025 season. The Wildcats will open their season hosting the CWU XC Opener this Saturday, Sept. 6 with the women's race kicking things off at 9:30 a.m. with the men's race starting at 10:00 a.m.
Both teams have a number of new faces for the 2025 season 12 newcomers joining the program.
On the women's side there are eight newcomers with six of the eight hailing from within Washington state. The Wildcats will see a quintet of new runners heading to The 'Burg from the west side of the state:
Maddy Harrison (University Place/Curtis HS),
Hailey Howard (Gig Harbor/Peninsula HS),
Dawn Hulstedt (Sequim/Sequim HS),
Katie Manly (Ferndale/Ferndale HS), and
Brynne Williams (Tenino/Tenino HS). There will also be two new runners hailing from the east side of the state in
Paige Huntsinger (Liberty Lake/Ridgeline HS) and
Lexi Titchenal (Spokane Valley/University HS). Rounding out the newcomers on the women's squad is transfer
Lillian Neff (Syracuse, Utah/Syracuse HS) who comes in after two years at the College of Southern Idaho.
The men's squad sees four newcomers this season. Hailing from Lake Stevens, Washington and Lake Stevens High School is sophomore
Weston Breen and freshman
Ares Van Straaten and heading to The Burg from University Place, Washington and Curtis High School is
Kellen McInelly and
Dima Serafimovici.
A solid core returns for both squads as returning juniors
Natalie Barta,
Jessica Henry,
Camryn Holterhoff, and
Allison Smith look to guide a youthful group that features seven sophomores, including last years women's squad leader
Payton Conover, and seven freshmen.
The men's team returns four runners in
Luke Hurd,
Max Hutton,
Ethan Moore, and
Charles Naught. Hurd finished 27th in the GNAC Championships last fall while Naught and Hutton landed 75th and 82nd at the NCAA West Region Championships last fall, respectfully.
ABOUT THE CWU XC OPENER
The CWU Cross Country Teams will start their season hosting the CWU XC Opener on the campus of Central Washington University. The women's race will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the men's starting at 10:00 a.m. The race will be held on the XC Course at Tomlinson Stadium and the Nicholson Athletics Complex where spectators can watch for free from various spots in Tomlinson and the surrounding fields by Nicholson and the CWU Baseball Field where the race will happen. Spectators can park at Tomlinson Stadium, Nicholson Arena, or on 18th street.
Results will be posted and proved to TFRRS.org and Athletic.net following the conclusion of the race.
The teams will begin just east of Tomlinson Stadium and will loop the complex before finishing on the field in Tomlinson Stadium.
THE 2025 CWU CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
The CWU Cross Country Teams will travel across the Pacific Northwest this season, opening the 2025 campaign in their own backyard at the CWU XC Opener this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The 'Cats will then travel over to Colfax, Washington to participate in the Cougar Classic on Friday, September 12 at 5:00 p.m. from the Colfax Golf Club. Following the Cougar Classic, the crimson and black will head west to participate in the Pacific Lutheran Invitational on Saturday, September 20 with an 11:45 a.m. start from the PLU Meadows. The 'Cats wrap up September at the Bill Roe Invitational, hosted by Western Washington University, on Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m. in Ferndale, Washington from Hovander Park. CWU will then run at the Bill Dellinger Invitational at 11:15 a.m. in Springfield, Oregon at the Pine Ridge Golf Club, hosted by the University of Oregon. The next day the 'Cats will head to the Emerald City Open in Seattle and in the Lower Woodland Park on Saturday, October 11 as their final tune up before turning their attention to the conference and regional meets.
The GNAC Championships will be held in Billings, Montana this year on Saturday, October 25 in Amend Park. The 'Cats will then head to Monmouth, Oregon to run at the NCAA West Region Championships on Saturday, November 8 from inside the Ash Creek Preserve. The NCAA National Championships this year will be held on Saturday, November 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin at the Wayne E Danehl National Cross Country Course.
