LOCK HAVEN, PA - Gannon sophomore standout Emily Bowers (Silver Creek, N.Y./Silver Creek) has been named PSAC Athlete of the Year for women's cross country, it was announced today by the conference. The voting on conference awards are determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches.

Bowers is the first Gannon female cross country runner to receive Athlete of the Year honors. 

Bowers' 2025 campaign was historic on multiple levels. In just her second season with the Golden Knights, the Silver Creek, NY native became the first ever GU women's cross country runner to win the individual title at PSAC Championships in Edinboro, PA. Her time of 22:17.00 was best by nearly six seconds and advanced her to the Atlantic Regional competition. 

Two weeks later, Bowers would follow up a first place finish with a near top spot in the regional competition. Racing in Lock Haven, PA, the sophomore would claim second place with a time of 21:22.5, just a half a second off the top spot. 

The finish would qualify her for the NCAA Championship meet in Kenosha, WI, and it made another piece of history: no Gannon woman had ever advanced to nationals on the women's side. Bowers would finish in the top 100 (91st) at NCAA Championships, finishing third amongst all Atlantic Region qualifiers. She clocked a time of 21:44 in a field of 263 competitors.