BETHANY, W.Va (Sept. 12)- The Saint Vincent women's cross country team won the Bethany College Invitational to open their 2026 season behind junior Grace Neubert who placed first overall to win the individual championship.

As a team, the Bearcats totaled 37 points to win the event, finishing ahead of NCAA Division II foe Clarion, who totaled 44 points. SVC finished ahead of PAC foes, W&J (third), Waynesburg (fifth), and Franciscan (seventh).

Neubert, a back-to-back NCAA Division III Championship qualifier, began her junior season on a strong note. The junior won the event by over one minute, racing to a winning time of 22:34.3, which was a 6:03 pace in the 6K race.

Senior Kristen Prince returned to the course in a big way. Prince began her senior campaign with a third place finish, racing a time of 23:51.8 at a 6:24 pace.

In her first career race, Samantha Straub finished in the top-10 (eighth), finishing in a time of 25:00.8 at a 6:42 pace. In the over 70-runner field, the Bearcats continued to dominate the event as Lauren Schemmel placed 11th in a time of 25:10.4 and Jane Huss came in right behind Schemmel in a time of 25:33.0

Freshman Madison Lucas placed in the middle of the pack, finishing 34th overall in a time of 29:45.3

As a team, SVC recorded an average time of 24:26.1, 13 seconds faster than second place Clarion.

Saint Vincent will return to the course two weeks from today on Saturday, September 26 as they travel to Lock Haven, PA to take place in the Lock Haven University Invitational. The race will take place at West Branch Cross Country Course.