Season Preview: 2020-21 Women's Cross Country
 
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College women's cross country team features a young roster that's eager to climb the ranks of Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2020-21. W&J begins its season Feb. 27 at Saint Vincent.
 
2019 Season Review: The Presidents completed a five-race regular season slate and posted a seventh-place finish at the 2019 PAC Championships for the second-straight season.
 
Sophomore Faith Remich (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) had a strong sophomore campaign in which she was W&J's top finisher in all seven of the Presidents' meets in 2019.
 
Remich capped her season with the Presidents' best individual performance at PACs since 2012. She ran to a 12th-place finish at 24:33.60 to earn All-PAC Second Team status.
 
The Presidents will have to replace the production of a large senior class of Hannah Lacey, Payton McAninch, Brie Sutherland, Olivia Trauner and Kate Sullivan.
 
"That feels like so long ago, wow!" said third-year head coach Derek Workman. "I was happy with the way our women showed up at the PAC Championship. It was a challenging year from an injury standpoint, but our women gave it everything they had that day. As for this team this upcoming season, I am so excited about our group this year!  They come in and work hard every day, push each other to be better, and have great attitudes. There is a lot of talent on this women's team, and I can't wait to watch them compete and progress all spring!"
 
Team Captains: Faith Remich
 
Returners: Remich headlines the Presidents' returners as a two-time All-PAC performer. She finished 17th at PAC to earn All-PAC Honorable Mention status before her 12th-place showing earned her All-PAC Second Team honors last fall. Remich ran a career-best 24:27.30 6K at Lock Haven, which ranks 11th in the program's all-time leaderboard. She was the only W&J women's cross country runner to compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional and finished in the top half of the 349 runner field.
 
"Faith has been our best runner for a couple years now and has made a steady progression her entire career," said Workman. "She was locked in at the PAC XC Championship that day, placing 12th overall. I was so happy for her!  I hate that we didn't get to have an outdoor season last year, because she ended her indoor season on a very high note, placing 3rd in the mile with a 5:25. She will be ready to go this season, no doubt in my mind!  Faith is the unquestioned leader of this group, I truly can't say enough positive things about her."
 
Sophomore Bre Trusler (Daisytown, Pa./California) was the Presidents' second finisher in three meets last season and was among W&J's top five in each meet in 2019. She ran a season-best 6K at Oberlin (27:28.0) and placed 86th at PACs.
 
"Bre is a very talented runner," said Workman. "At this point in her career, she is definitely more of a "track" runner, as evidenced by her third place finish in the 400 at the PAC Indoor T&F Championships last February. She is extremely hard-working, has a great attitude, and extremely coachable. Keep an eye on Bre Trusler as we move into Outdoor Track & Field this spring."
 
Sophomore Mackenzie Stevenson (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) broke into the Presidents' first five finishers on four occasions in her debut season for the Red and Black. She established her collegiate best 6K time at Oberlin (28:23.0).
 
"Mackenzie is a positive, hard-working individual," said Workman. "I think she is going to take some big strides forward this year. She is getting better each and every day."

Newcomers: The Presidents add four newcomers into the mix for 2020-21.
 
"Watch out for this group!" said Workman. "We have a very talented and hard-working group of incoming ladies this year. I can't wait to watch them progress throughout this spring, it should be fun to watch."
 
Cassie Carr (Girard, Pa./Girard)
Hannah Haussmann (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport)
Grace Kirwin (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington)
Harley Pflugh (Butler, Pa./Slippery Rock Area)

Looking At The Schedule: The 2020-21 cross country season will consist of two regular-season meets and a PAC Championship meet.
 
"I'm glad we were able to put together a schedule to let our kids compete," said Workman. "I have to be honest, I was a little skeptical about the weather in February and March, and still am to a certain extent. That said, we will keep hoping for the best because we can't control the weather. Hopefully the weather we've had in recent weeks is behind us, and we can see some solid growth and progression in the coming weeks."
 
The Presidents open the season Feb. 27 at Saint Vincent. Bethany College will host the final two meets with the Bethany Invitational on March 6 and the PAC Championships on March 20.
 
Waynesburg won its fourth-consecutive PAC Championship in 2019. The Yellow Jackets won with a team score of 36, just four points ahead of second place Geneva.
 
The PAC welcomes Franciscan into the fold as a full-time member competing in cross country in 2020. The Lady Barons finished second at the 2019 AMCC Championships with a team score of 37 and four finishers inside the conference's top 10.
 
Last Word: "Appreciate the opportunity we have in front of us!" said Workman. "Appreciate being able to practice and train with your teammates. Appreciate the memories you make with your teammates. Appreciate being able to compete again. Enjoy the process and have fun, because as we learned over the past year, it can get taken away in the blink of an eye."