Women's Cross Country | 9/5/2026 6:10:00 PM
EDINBORO, Pa. – The Gannon women's cross country team opened the 2026 season with a third-place finish at the Doug Watts Open on Saturday, placing three runners inside the top 20.
Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) paced the Golden Knights with a sixth-place finish, crossing the line in 19:49.00. Newcomer Josephine Holody () followed with an impressive collegiate debut, finishing 12th overall in 20:14.00.
Josey Blackburn (Northfield, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) gave Gannon its third top-20 finisher, placing 20th overall with a time of 20:43.30.
Makayla McLister (Butler, Pa./Butler Area) was the fourth Golden Knight across the line, finishing 32nd in 21:15.40, while Anna Rakvic (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) rounded out Gannon's five scoring runners with a 46th-place finish in 22:08.70. The five combined for 98 points.
Slippery Rock's Carissa Flynn won the individual title with a time of 18:40.90. A total of 74 runners competed in the race.
THE MEET FACTS
Event: Doug Watts Open
Location: Edinboro, Pa.
Date: September 5, 2026
Team Finish: 3rd – 98 points
Top Gannon Finisher: Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) – 6th – 19:49.00
Field: 74 runners
DOUG WATTS OPEN GANNON RESULTS (74 runners)
- Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) – 6th – 19:49.00
- Josephine Holody () – 12th – 20:14.00
- Josey Blackburn (Northfield, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) – 20th – 20:43.30
- Makayla McLister (Butler, Pa./Butler Area) – 32nd – 21:15.40
- Anna Rakvic (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) – 46th – 22:08.70
- Doris Taucher (Akron, Ohio/Chardon) – 60th – 23:24.10
- Brooke Wissinger (Fombell, Pa./Riverside) – 62nd – 23:37.50
- Cecilia Gordan (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Holy Name) – 64th – 23:52.20
- Marissa Bigante (Hampton, Pa./Hampton) – 65th – 24:05.20
- Ilayna Murray (Triadelphia, WV/Linsley School) – 66th – 24:17.90
- Maria Ziemkiewicz (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge Area) – 67th – 24:22.90
UP NEXT
The Gannon men's and women's cross country teams return to action at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, Saturday, September 26, at Roberts Wesleyan!
This story was written using the support of AI.
