LANCASTER, Pa. – Seventeen-time defending conference champion Johns Hopkins has once again been chosen as the preeminent favorite to hoist the trophy in the 2026 Centennial Conference Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll. The Blue Jays nabbed all nine possible first-place votes and 81 points to earn top billing in a vote among CC head coaches.
Swarthmore collected the remaining first-place nod and totaled 67 points to edge out Gettysburg (63) for second place in the voting. Dickinson was picked fourth with 57 points while Franklin & Marshall (49) narrowly placed ahead of Haverford (48) in fifth place.
The 2026 season is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, Sept. 1 with four CC squads in action on opening day. The Centennial Conference championship is set for Saturday, Oct. 31 at Haverford. This will make the sixth time Haverford has served as CC cross country hosts, most recently in 2022.
2026 Centennial Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
| Rank | Institution (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Johns Hopkins (9) |
81 |
| 2. Swarthmore (1) |
67 |
| 3. Gettysburg |
63 |
| 4. Dickinson |
57 |
| 5. Franklin & Marshall |
49 |
| 6. Haverford |
48 |
| 7. Ursinus |
29 |
| 8. Muhlenberg |
27 |
| 9. Bryn Mawr |
15 |
| 10. McDaniel |
14 |
2026 Schedule | 2025 Championship Results | 2025 All-Centennial Team | History & Records | USTFCCCA Rankings
Another year, another perfect finish for Johns Hopkins. In what has now become commonplace at the conference championship, Johns Hopkins secured a perfect score for the fourth straight season en route to its 17th consecutive Centennial Conference crown last fall at Gettysburg. Securing the top six placings and eight runners in the top 10, Hopkins delivered a perfect score of 15 points for the fifth time overall in conference history.
Swarthmore and Hopkins both claimed regional titles and went on to represent the CC at the NCAA championship. The regional crown and NCAA appearance were the first in program history for Swarthmore, while the Blue Jays won regional gold for the 17th straight season. Hopkins posted its 11th podium finish at NCAAs since 2012, taking fourth place, while Swarthmore finished 32nd.
Reigning CC Runner of the Year Carter Brotherton led Hopkins at the NCAA meet with a ninth-place finish to earn All-America honors for the second straight year. Brotherton was joined on the All-America podium by teammates Mia Kotler (14th) and Storrie Kulynych-Irvin (37th), giving the Blue Jays a formidable returning All-American trio heading into 2026.
That trio headlines a strong group of accomplished runners back in the Centennial that includes 16 All-Region and 11 All-Centennial performers. Haverford's Alice Sappenfield and Swarthmore's Ania Wong and Elizabeth Page are back as two-time All-Region honorees, while Brotherton is a two-time All-CC performer who was also the 2024 Rookie of the Year in addition to earning Runner of the Year last fall.
The 2026 campaign will be the final one for Dickinson head coach Don Nichter, who has guided the Red Devil men's and women's cross country programs for nearly four decades. Nichter has led Dickinson to 10 women's team titles, including a run of eight straight from 2000-07. He has been voted as the regional coach of the year five times. When combining his career coaching both cross country and track & field, his teams have captured 24 Centennial team championships.
The USTFCCCA preseason regional rankings will be released on Tuesday, Aug. 25, with the national ranking anounncement set for Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Returning All-Americans (3)
Carter Brotherton, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (9th place at 2025 NCAA Championship; 25th place at 2024 NCAA Championship)
Mia Kotler, Johns Hopkins, So. (14th place at 2025 NCAA Championship)
Storrie Kulynych-Irvin, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (37th place at 2025 NCAA Championship)
Returning All-Region (16)
Liza Barbash, Dickinson, Jr. (2025 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Meghan Higgins-Haas, Sr. (2025 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Tara Silverman, Franklin & Marshall, Jr. (2025 Mid-Atlantic Region)
Katie Scott, Franklin & Marshall, Sr. (2025 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Alice Sappenfield, Haverford, Sr. (2024 & 2023 Metro All-Region)
Anastasia Jaycobs, Haverford, Sr. (2024 Metro All-Region)
Storrie Kulynych-Irvin, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (2025 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Elena Blodnikar, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (2025 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Ani Wedemeyer, Johns Hopkins, So. (2025 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Natalie Boquist, Johns Hopkins, Sr. (2025 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Sydney Shock, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (2024 Mid-Atlantic All-Region)
Ania Wong, Swarthmore, Sr. (2025 Metro All-Region, 2024 Metro All-Region)
Elizabeth Page, Swarthmore, Sr. (2025 Metro All-Region, 2024 Metro All-Region)
Charlotte Martin, Swarthmore, Jr. (2025 Metro All-Region)
Tea Malone-Bonacci, Swarthmore, Sr. (2025 Metro All-Region)
Aaliyah Anaskevich, Swarthmore, Jr. (2025 Metro All-Region)
Returning All-Centennial (11)
Liza Barbash, Dickinson, Jr. (2025 First Team)
Katie Scott, Franklin & Marshall, Sr. (2025 Second Team)
Tara Silverman, Franklin & Marshall, Jr. (2025 Second Team)
Carter Brotherton, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (2025 Runner OTY & First Team, 2024 Rookie OTY & First Team)
Storrie Kulynych-Irvin, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (2025 First Team)
Mia Kotler, Johns Hopkins, So. (2025 Rookie OTY & First Team)
Natalie Boquist, Johns Hopkins, Sr. (2025 First Team)
Elena Blodnikar, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (2025 Second Team)
Sydney Shock, Johns Hopkins, Jr. (2024 First Team)
Ania Wong, Swarthmore, Jr. (2024 Second Team)
Elizabeth Page, Swarthmore, Jr. (2024 Second Team)
