KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After a fourth-place finish at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships in 2024, head coach Ray Hoffman and the Kutztown University women's cross country team look to use last year's momentum to reach new heights in 2025.

The upcoming fall season sees the return of five of the top six runners Kutztown featured from its seventh-place NCAA Regionals squad. Senior Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and junior Maura Lenhart (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) each claimed All-Region honors after top-25 finishes, and are joined by seniors Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) and Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) and sophomores Jensen Kraft (Nutley, N.J./Saint Mary) and Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy), who turned in top-15 times in multiple races throughout the regular season.

Hoffman, in his 28th year at the helm of the program, noted the depth of his team a season ago and added to that with the additions of six newcomers in hopes of continuing the upward trajectory the team has shown over the past couple of seasons.

"Our women's program is one of the most talented and deepest squads we have had in recent years," said Hoffman. "We bring a wealth of experience back from the last couple of years and are looking to do big things. The ladies put in a great summer of training which has shown during the first few weeks back on campus.  Last year we had four different athletes run in our number one spot, all of whom are returning this season. All-PSAC runners Young, Knerr and Lenhart will give us quality up front runners and will be supported by returners Kraft, Donovan, Solomon and Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run), as well as Division 1 transfers Gabby Keith (Reading, Pa./Exeter) and Lizzie Brown (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan) to add more firepower within our top seven runners."

The Golden Bears claimed three top-three team finishes a season ago, including the top spot at the West Liberty Invitational to open the season. Its first two meets featured four runners inside the top ten, while three runners finished in the top 20 at the PSAC Championships to claim All-PSAC honors. KU will face similar competition from last season, and the veteran team looks to stake its claim among the conference's best.

Kutztown was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC preseason coaches poll, slotted behind Slippery Rock, East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg. The Rock garnered ten first-place votes as it looks to claim its third consecutive conference championship, while ESU claimed six votes and Shippensburg snagged the remaining vote.

The Golden Bears open the season at the WCU Opener at Unionville High School, hosted by West Chester University, on Friday, September 5. KU will have four regular season meets before competing in the PSAC Cross Country Championships in Edinboro, Pa., on Saturday, October 25.