Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU women's cross-country team begins their 2026 campaign Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. as they compete at the annual Bearcat invite. After an impressive 2025 season, taking second place at the GLVC Championships the Bearcats bring back many returners as the seek the GLVC crown for the first time since 2020.
 
"We are excited to see how the returners that mesh will with the newcomers." Head Coach Corey McElhaney said, "we have had some strong workouts to begin the season. As always it is a great experience to compete in front of our home crowd."
 
Following their 2025 season, the Bearcats were picked to take 2^nd place again this year behind the six-time GLVC Champions in Lewis University. One strong advantage the Bearcats have is returning the back-to-back freshman of the year award winners. In 2024, Natalie Gerdes won this title with a 15^th place finish, as she returns for her junior season. Just a year later, freshman Gracie Troester won that same award taking 6^th place at the GLVC Championships. Now she returns for her sophomore season hoping to continue to push the Bearcats in a positive direction.
 
It's not just freshman of the year award winners that make this group such a threat, but multiple All-GLVC runners. Senior Keirsten Potter returns for her final go around after being.  an All-GLVC runner the last two years. In 2024, she took 11^th place after finishing in 32^nd the year prior making a big jump. Her junior season wasn't as good as her sophomore year but still earned that All-GLVC recognition with a 15^th place finish. Another returning All-GLVC runner is senior Lily Hunsucker. She took 19^th her sophomore season, followed by a 16^th place finish last year.
 
The returning talent will get to intermingle with young, new talent that can help lead the Bearcats to a strong finish in 2026. Locally is Abigail Tague from Lebanon, Missouri and Audrey Richter from Kansas City. Coach McElhaney went overseas for another strong first year in Lina Schitz who is joining SBU for her first year of college.
 
Southwest Baptist will begin their run this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the Bolivar Municipal Golf Course.