Contact: Greta Norville: Assistant Director of Sports Communications and Marketing, norvilleg@midwestconference.org
 
BELOIT, Wisconsin – Ripon College claimed the Midwest Conference (MWC) Women’s Cross Country title Saturday at the 2026 MWC Cross Country Championship at Beloit Country Club, in Beloit, Wisconsin, finishing with 48 team points.
 
The Red Hawks edged Cornell College, who finished second with 50 points, while Grinnell College placed third with 66 points. Lawrence finished fourth with 99 points, followed by Luther College (121), Lake Forest College (171), Illinois College (195), Beloit College (220), and Knox College (261). Monmouth College also competed in the Championship.
 
Ripon was led by individual champion Joley Berger, who captured the MWC title with a time of 21:20 after finishing second last year. Gabby Allard finished third (22:20), while Ximena Juarez placed 10th in 23:12. Addy Baird (14th, 23:19) and Leah Page (20th, 23:44) rounded out the top 20.
 
Cornell’s Lidia Dahlman finished second in 21:52, while the Rams also had Milar Little (eighth, 23:00), Gretchyn Fairlie (ninth, 23:05), Carley Seeley (15th, 23:24) and Zoe Peesel (16th, 23:26) earn All-Conference honors.
 
Lawrence placed two runners in the top five, with Lillian Courtnage-Dyke finishing fourth (22:28) and Mila Westra fifth (22:34).
 
Grinnell was led by Hannah Roth who finished in sixth place in 22:45. Arushi Kharbanda placed seventh in 22:54, while Lizzie Drew finished 13th in 23:17 and Ella McEntee placed 19th in 23:43.
 
Luther’s Mia Deegan finished 11th overall in 23:15 to earn MWC Newcomer of the Year honors. Her teammate, Norah McDonald, took 17th in 23:28. Lake Forest’s Lettia Hoda placed 12th in 23:16, while Beloit’s Addie Bogda finished 18th in 23:38.
 
The Ripon College coaching staff was named the 2026 MWC Women’s Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year. The Red Hawks are guided by head coach Drew Hoffman in his third season, and he is assisted by Max Bailey and Jillian Cole.
 
Sophie Stumbo of Cornell College received the 2026 MWC Women’s Cross Country Elite 20 award for having the highest cumulative grade-point average among student-athletes competing in the championship.
 
The final team standings and the All-MWC Team recognizing the top 20 finishers are listed below.
 
2026 MWC Women’s Cross Country Team Scoring/Final Standings

1. Ripon College – 48 points
2. Cornell College – 50 points
3. Grinnell College – 66 points
4. Lawrence University – 99 points
5. Luther College – 121 points
6. Lake Forest College– 171 points
7. Illinois College – 195points
8. Beloit College  – 220 points
9. Knox College – 261 points

*Monmouth College
* Did not place as a team
2026 MWC Women’s Cross Country All-Conference Team (Top-20 Finishers)

1. Joley Berger, Ripon – 21:20
2. Lidia Dahlman, Cornell – 21:52
3. Gabby Allard, Ripon – 22:20
4. Lillian Courtnage-Dyke, Lawrence – 22:28
5. Mila Westra, Lawrence – 22:34
6. Hannah Roth, Grinnell – 22:45
7. Arushi Kharbanda, Grinnell – 22:54
8. Milar Little, Cornell – 23:00
9. Gretchyn Fairlie, Cornell – 23:05
10. Ximena Juarez, Ripon – 23:12
11. Mia Deegan, Luther – 23:15 – Newcomer of the Year
12. Lettia Hoda, Lake Forest – 23:16
13. Lizzie Drew, Grinnell – 23:17
14. Addy Baird, Ripon – 23:19
15. Carely Seeley, Cornell – 23:24
16. Zoe Pessel, Cornell – 23:26
17. Norah McDonald, Luther – 23:28
18. Addie Bogda, Beloit – 23:38
19. Ella McEntee, Grinnell - 23:43
20. Leah Page, Ripon – 23:44

Purchase champion apparel here: https://midwestconferencewxc26.itemorder.com/