ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women’s cross country team opens the 2024 season on Friday (Aug. 30) at the Terry Rodenbeck Invitational at St. John Fisher University. Here are six things you need to know about the team.
REGIONAL RANKING
RIT began the season ranked sixth in the USTFCCCA regional preseason rankings.
STRONG TEAM PERFORMANCES IN 2023
In the 2024 season, RIT looks to build on the 2023 season, in which the Tigers finished no worse than eighth and finished in the top three four times. RIT won its season opener at St. Josh Fisher before taking second at Lehigh’s Paul Short Run. The team also placed third at Houghton’s Highlander Invitational and the Niagara Region Championships.
RUNNING RETURNER
A total of eight runners are back for this season, including Sierra DanieuThe senior was the top competitor for RIT at last season’s Niagara Region Championships. Eva Reilly and Rachel Ladd return to 25th placeth and 26th or at the Liberty League Championships.
NEW FACES
This season, four freshmen are in the squad with Kathryn Arbegast, Nora Babbitt, Sydney Borofskyand Teah Sullivan moves to the Tigers.
SHORT TRIPS
The Tigers won’t have to travel outside of New York State all season until the NCAA Division III Championships, which will be held in Terre Haute, Indiana. RIT’s closest race farthest away is the Liberty League Championships in Canton, NY.
TIMELINE 2024
RIT is scheduled to compete in six contests this fall before the postseason. After their opening contest at St. John Fisher, the Tigers will stay close to home when they compete in the University of Rochester’s Yellowjacket Invitational (Sept. 21) at Genesee Valley Park. The team will then compete in the Harry F. Anderson Invitational at Roberts Wesleyan University (Sept. 28) and the Kara Hall Memorial Invitational at Fredonia State (Oct. 5). The Tigers will continue the season at the Houghton University Highlander Invitational (Oct. 12) and the Mike Woods Invitational in Geneseo (Oct. 19). This year’s postseason begins with the Liberty League Championships (Nov. 2), played at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. Fredonia will host the Niagara Region Championships (Nov. 16) before the NCAA Division III Championships (Nov. 23) at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.
