Women's Cross Country | 9/26/2026 9:40:00 PM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) led the Gannon women's cross country team Saturday morning at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, placing 12th overall as the Golden Knights finished seventh in the 18-team field.

Abbett completed the 5K course in 18:59.0, while Megan Ickes (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) was Gannon's second finisher, placing 29th in 19:31.2. The Golden Knights finished with 195 points and posted an average scoring time of 19:46.5. 

Josephine Holody (), Josey Blackburn (Northfield, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) and Makayla McLister (Butler, Pa./Butler Area) rounded out Gannon's scoring five. Holody placed 51st in 19:56.8, Blackburn followed in 55th at 19:59.9 and McLister crossed in 74th with a time of 20:25.5. 

THE EVENT FACTS
Team Finish: 7th of 18 teams
Team Score: 195 points
Top Individual: Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) – 12th, 18:59.0
Event: Harry F. Anderson Invitational
Distance: 5K
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 

TOP FIVE TEAMS

1. Edinboro – 43
2. Roberts Wesleyan – 69
3. Cortland State – 72
4. Nazareth – 142
5. SUNY Geneseo – 165

Gannon – 7th, 195 points 

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS

1. Melissa Innocent, Cortland State – 17:53.2
2. Kadi Bauer, Edinboro – 17:58.2
3. Phoebe Peer, Cortland State – 17:58.9
4. Madeline Hammond, Edinboro – 18:03.6
5. Katie Slimon, Edinboro – 18:25.5 

GANNON INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

• 12. Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) – 18:59.0
• 29. Megan Ickes (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) – 19:31.2
• 51. Josephine Holody () – 19:56.8
• 55. Josey Blackburn (Northfield, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) – 19:59.9
• 74. Makayla McLister (Butler, Pa./Butler Area) – 20:25.5
• 89. Anna Rakvic (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) – 20:46.5
• 138. Maria Ziemkiewicz (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge Area) – 22:32.4
• 139. Marissa Bigante (Hampton, Pa./Hampton) – 22:33.5
• 140. Ilayna Murray (Triadelphia, WV/Linsley School) – 22:36.3
• DNF. Doris Taucher (Akron, Ohio/Chardon) 

THE KNIGHT CAP

• Abbett Leads the Way: Abbett was Gannon's first runner across the line, finishing 12th overall in 18:59.0. 
• Ickes in the Top 30: Ickes gave Gannon a second top-30 finisher with her 29th-place time of 19:31.2. 
• Two Under 20 Minutes: Holody and Blackburn both broke the 20-minute mark, finishing in 19:56.8 and 19:59.9, respectively. 
• Scoring Five: McLister completed Gannon's scoring group with a 74th-place finish in 20:25.5. 
• Seventh in a Deep Field: Gannon placed seventh among 18 teams, finishing just six points behind sixth-place Brockport State.

THE NEXT EVENT

Gannon returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 10, when the Golden Knights compete in the Highlander Invitational, hosted by Houghton University. The women's race is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.

This story was written using the support of AI.