Big Ten Conference Releases Preseason Women’s Runners to Watch

ROSEMONT, lll. – The Big Ten Conference’s 2026 Women’s Runners to Watch List was announced on Wednesday, featuring 18 cross country student-athletes. The watch list was determined by the conference’s head coaches.  
 
The 2026 cross country season is set to begin on Friday, Sep. 4. In the 2025 season, Oregon won the women’s Big Ten Championship for the second consecutive season with a Big Ten record low of 18 team points. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Diana Cherotich crossed the finish line first, and the Ducks claimed four of the top five finishers.  

Five runners on the preseason list earned postseason honors last year, and three finished within the top 10 at the Big Ten Championships.  

The complete 2026 Women’s Runners to Watch List can be found below: 

Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Runners to Watch 
Kennady Anderson, Jr., Illinois 
Katy Zang, Fr., Indiana 
Hillary Trainor, Jr., Iowa 
Rose Coats, Sr., Maryland 
Penelopea Gordon, Grad., Michigan 
Sarah Forsyth, Grad., Michigan State 
Ali Weimer, Grad., Minnesota 
Ali Bainbridge, Sr., Nebraska 
Ava Criniti, Jr., Northwestern 
Audrey DeSantis, Grad., Ohio State 
Diana Cherotich, So., Oregon 
Charlotte Costich, Grad., Penn State 
Lauren Pegher, Jr., Purdue 
Kelseigh O’Neil, Jr., Rutgers 
Olivia Foody, Jr., UCLA 
Holli Prest, Jr., USC 
Julia David-Smith, Grad., Washington 
Mikaela Helling, Sr., Wisconsin