WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College men's and women's cross country prepare for another run at the Presidents' Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. In the PAC preseason polls, each team was selected to finish fifth at this season's conference championships.
 
"The preseason polls are what they are. The team's desire to be great and motivated to do well at the PAC Championships didn't need any extra fuel. Our guys were really close to winning the Championships in the last two years and I think those runs as much as anything fueled our ladies for the desire to be in the fight for a Championship as well," replied Head Coach Andy Upton. "Sure, we all read the polls and I'm sure it was discussed the day they came out but our message has never been to prove the conference wrong.  Our message is to control what we can control and be the best version of ourselves.  If we can individually and as a team do that, then the rest will take care of itself"
 
The W&J women are heading into the conference championships with a full head of steam. The Presidents have already made program history this season as well, making their way into the regional rankings for the first time in school history. The women currently hold third in the region.
 
"This has been a very special season for our ladies team. They have stacked good week after good week and they have had a blast doing it together," said Upton. "It has been one of the tightest teams that I have been around and watching their support for each other week in and week out has helped us get to the position we are in right now this season." 
 
Claire Anderson (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown) has been the top runner for the unit and has only looked to expand off her historic 2024 season. Anderson became W&J's first women's NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion in 2024, breaking the school record time in the women's 6k with a 21:04.9 mark. The record, formerly held by Kristen Galligan, was kept for 12 years. At NCAA Nationals, Anderson finished in 23^rd place with a time of 21.33.4 to finish as the first W&J women's cross country All-American since Galligan in 2012.
 
"Claire had the best offseason of her career this past summer and it has showed up during the regular season meets so far," stated Upton. "We have put her and her teammates in some very competitive meets this year and she has done nothing but excel and learn from each meet and continue to get better throughout the season."
 
Anderson is a proven runner at the PAC Championships, being named PAC Runner of the Year as the PAC Champion in 2023 and racing to a runner up finish last season. This season, Anderson has raced to two first-place finishes at the Dickinson Long-Short Invitational and at the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble. She has also been named PAC Runner of the Week four times this season.
 
"I expect her to treat this like every other race this season and come in and compete against a very strong field that includes three other NCAA National Qualifiers like her where anybody can win on any given day," said Upton.    
 
Chloe LoCastro (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) and Maria Gilles (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Lake Ridge Academy) have put together an impressive 2025 campaigns this season. Last season at the PAC Championships, Gilles placed 11^th, earning her an All-PAC Second Team nod.
 
"Chloe and Maria have had an unbelievable 12 months. Their climb started during last cross country season and carried through both Indoor and outdoor track season," replied Upton. "Their drive to be great is something that I witnessed from them as sophomores when I first arrived. However, in the last 12 months it has really kicked into overdrive and has become even more special."
 
LoCastro has hit a personal-best in each meet this season with the latest being at the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble as she coasted to a 14^th place finish with a time of 22:44.90.
 
"Chloe has been a very pleasant surprise, and she has been one of the hottest runners in the PAC this season.  I knew she was talented and knew that she was heading for a good season, but I had no idea she would reach the heights she has to this point," stated Upton. "Her determination and work ethic to be great has not slowed down for the last 12 months and she has had an unbelievable season where she has hit a personal best in every single meet she has ran in. Chloe has also made it in our record books as one of the best runners in school history."
 
Gilles reached a new personal-best this season at the Louisville Classic on Saturday (Oct. 4). The senior captain paced her way to a 29th place finish with a PR time of 22:38.6.
 
"I have always thought that Maria was one of toughest runners in the conference and she has always showed up when it matters at the PAC Championships," said Upton. "It has been a special year for all three of our seniors and it has been a lot of fun to watch them do this together." 
 
Juniors Cali LaRue (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) and Genevieve Ruth (Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville Broadview Heights) each look to build off of their regular season performances this season. LaRue tied her personal-best time of 24:25.5 at the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumbles. Ruth reached her best time of the season in the women's 6k with a mark of 24:21.1 in Oberlin.
 
"Genevieve and Cali have been huge to the success of our team this year.  Much like the others, they have had a great 12 months of training as well," said Upton. "They have really grown as runners this year and continue to get stronger each and every week. They are a lot of fun to be around, and they are peaking at the right time of the year."
 
The women are in contention to compete for their first PAC Championship victory in program history. Coach Upton spoke on what the team needs to do to perform and ensure history.
 
"They just need to treat this as every other race this year and go into the meet and execute the racing plan put in front of them. They have done a great job of this all year and have all grown on the mental side of racing and it has shown up in the results all year," stated Upton. "It will be a very challenging feat to pull off because there are some very talented teams that we are racing against. However, the opportunity to be in the mix is one that our ladies are very excited about." 

The W&J men's cross country team heads into the conference championships with an abundance of youth. Three out of the top five runners this season have been freshman contributors.
 
"I'm excited to see how all of our guys run at this Championship. We are a very young team this year and all our guys have had some good moments this year," replied Upton. "After two good weeks of practice since our last meet at Oberlin, I'm excited to see our entire men's team put it together in the biggest meet of the year."
 
The youthful unit for the Presidents has been led by junior Dominic Flitcraft (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell). Flitcraft was a part of the first trio in program history to be sent to the NCAA Championships a season ago with Anderson and Brock Pennington (North East, Pa./North East) '25. At Nationals, Flitcraft finished 131^st with a time of 25.22.9 as the Presidents' top men's runner. This was the sophomore's first time qualifying for NCAA Nationals.
 
"After coming close to a conference championship in his first two seasons, Dom is extremely hungry and driven to come out on top this year," stated Upton. "He has had some good races this year, but his best race is still sitting out in front of him and after some great workouts this year I'm looking forward to seeing if this is the week that the big one comes out. There is a lot of good young talent in the conference this year and it will be another challenging task but one that Dom has embraced and is excited to take head on."
 
Last season at the PAC Championships, Flitcraft headed the Presidents' front with a third-place finish on the afternoon. The former PAC Newcomer of the year dropped just one spot compared to his freshman season finishing as the runner-up. Flitcraft finished with a time of 25:54.60, earning his second-consecutive All-PAC First Team honor. This season Flitcraft has been named PAC Runner of the Week four times.
 
Wyatt Stroup (Port Royal, Pa./Juniata) has been a hidden gem for the Presidents thus far as its top runner behind Flitcraft. The freshman reached his collegiate personal-best at the Louisville Classic with a 25:52.5 time to finish 35^th.
 
"Wyatt has been a huge addition to the team and while he's only a freshman he brings the competitive spirit of senior immediately in year one," stated Upton. Wyatt has had a very good freshman campaign, and he has a very bright future ahead of him.  It will be a lot of fun to watch how he attacks his first PAC Championship."
 
Stroup was selected as the PAC Newcomer of the Week for his performance at the Dickinson Long-Short Invitational. He coasted to a 10th place finish with a time of 26:49.2 and was the highest freshman finisher.
 
The W&J men's team also looks to be aided by a trio of seniors who contributed on and off the courses. John Ridilla (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bishop Canevin), Eli Westfort (Westborough, Mass./Westborough) and Lorenzo Zeni (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) all look to enter their fourth PAC Championship with the Presidents. Ridilla has been the Presidents' PAC Sportsmanship Team recipient the last four years due to his dedication to the team and sportsmanship around the conference.
 
"Our three seniors have been great program guys who would do anything for their team.  These three guys bust their butts every day in practice and in meets and it has been a lot of fun to watch them grow as runners over the last few years," replied Upton. "Their desire to see their teammates excel and their enthusiasm for their program has been one of their strongest assets over their time at W&J.  Their attitudes are contagious and have helped with the direction of our freshmen."
 
Both cross country teams will gear up for the 2025 PAC Championships on Saturday (Nov. 1) hosted by Allegheny. Action is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.