Results

EDINBORO, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's cross country team opened the 2025 season with a victory at the Doug Watts Invitational Saturday at Penn West University Edinboro.
 
The Rock put all five scorers in the top 13 positions to come away with the team title with 39 points. Edinboro was a close second with 52 points, followed by Bloomsburg in third with 57 points. East Stroudsburg was fourth with 115 points and D'Youville rounded out the top five with 172 points. A total of 11 complete teams and 113 individuals completed the race.
 
Ruthie Hughes paced the effort for Slippery Rock with a second place showing after covering the 5,000-meter course in 18:16. Jennifer Cichra was close behind in fourth place overall in 18:43 to give The Rock two runners in the top five.
 
Freshman Sydney Heltzell was the third scorer in her collegiate debut with a ninth place finish in 19:03. Carissa Flynn and Hannah Burgoon rounded out the five scorers with Flynn taking 13th in 19:11 and Burgoon finishing 14th in 19:19.

Gwen Lloyd was 15th in 19:22 to give SRU six runners in the top 15. Freshman Kayla Hanna rounded out the top seven finishers for The Rock in 22nd place in 19:36.80.
 
Saturday's season opener gave Slippery Rock and seven other teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference a chance to preview the course that will host the PSAC Championships later this fall.
 
The Rock will now take next weekend off before returning to action Sept. 20 at the Allegheny XC Classic in Meadville, Pennsylvania.
 
SRU RESULTS – DOUG WATTS INVITATIONAL
2. Ruthie Hughes – 18:16
4. Jennifer Cichra – 18:43
9. Sydney Heltzell – 19:03
13. Carissa Flynn – 19:11
14. Hannah Burgoon – 19:19
15. Gwen Lloyd – 19:22
22. Kayla Hanna – 19:36
28. Lydia Valeriano – 19:53
29. Lexie Wyant – 19:54
34. Birtukan Hartman – 20:02
37. Marabelle Thornberry – 20:08
45. Rylie Teapole – 20:30
61. Emily Grosch – 21:06
62. Caitlin Willer – 21:08
72. Skye Hackathorn – 21:24
78. Lizzie Higgins – 21:36
79. Addison McPeek – 21:42
96. Sloane Potter – 22:47
101. Caitlin Mann – 23:37
102. Ava Holbrook – 23:39
 



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