Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College cross country teams have a new leader in first-year head coach Izzy Alexander but the goal remains the same. 
 
Alexander, a longtime assistant coach, is in her 11th season with the program as she takes the reins from legendary coach Ray Appenheimer, who transitioned into an administrative role within the department. 
 
"I am honored and grateful for this opportunity to lead the cross country program and to be able to continue to build upon the foundation Ray created," Alexander said. "He built something special with this team and I am excited to, along with our new assistant coach, Eric Line, continue with our goal of focusing on the joy of competition, continuous athletic development, personal growth, and community." 
 
The men's team brings back tremendous experience, headlined by the senior duo of Walter Moak and Jonah Barber, who each earned All-NCAC first-team laurels a season ago en route to leading the team to a second-place finish at the conference championship meet. 
 
Moak was an NCAA qualifier in 2022, helping guide the Yeomen to their first NCAC championship that year. More recently, he capped off his 2024 outdoor track and field campaign by securing second-team All-America honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as he enters this fall motivated for a return to the national stage on the cross country terrain. 
 
Barber finished one spot back of Moak at last year's conference championship meet, placing seventh overall with classmates Johnny Ragsdale and Danny Markey not far behind in 19th and 22nd, respectively, with Ragsdale earning third-team all-conference honors. 
 
Jesse Herdman completes a five-man senior class that can carry the Yeomen back into first place in the NCAC. 
 
However, they certainly won't be alone in their quest for that goal as junior Charlie Endres is ready to take the next step after a solid 31st-place finish at last season's championship along with sophomore standout Will Gordon who had a fine freshman campaign.  
 
Junior Liam Newman and second-year harrier Piers Shirk, who placed fourth in the 1500m at the outdoor NCAC Championships, along with classmates Sam Mortensen, and Liam Hogan will look to factor into the top seven. They will be pushed by newcomers Geoff Arone, Daniel Beyda, Grant Hirsch, and Greydan Villano. 
 
"Our men's team is excited for the challenge and opportunity to contend for the team title at the NCAC Championships," Alexander said. "Our preseason camp showed that they worked hard over the summer and their 'let's go after this together' mentality is the kind of approach that is going to make for a fun and exciting season."
 
The senior foursome of Sage Reddish, Camila Ciembroniewicz, Caleigh Lyons, and Marisa Tayal headline a women's team that placed 13th overall at last season's NCAA Regional Championships and fourth in the NCAC. 
 
An All-NCAC second-team honoree in 2023 with a 13th-place finish, Reddish was also the team's top performer at regionals, nearly capturing all-region honors with their 38th-place finish. Ciembroniewicz picked up third-team All-NCAC honors last fall, placing 17th overall and followed that up with a 70th-place finish at the NCAA Regional Championships. 
 
Oberlin will look to junior Amber Borofsky and sophomore Zosia Mateja to jump into All-NCAC status this fall. A native of Easton, Connecticut, Borofsky was 37th at last year's NCAC Championship meet and went on to turn in a personal-best run of 23:32.5 at regionals. Mateja's rookie campaign featured a 39th-place showing at the conference meet and a PR of 23:39.8 at regionals. 
 
Junior Ella Wozek and second-year harriers Charlotte Purcell and Logan Lane are pushing to crack the top seven along with newcomers Solana Pearl and Samantha Soto. 
 
"Our women's team is a group that can contend for a top-three finish at the NCAC Championships," Alexander noted. "They also turned in a great summer's worth of training and I am thrilled to see our second and third-years make significant improvements this season. We have great leadership in our group of fourth-years and I am so pleased with the care and attention they give to the team."
 
Oberlin opens this season on Friday, August 30 at the College of Wooster. The NCAC Championships are set for November 3 in Greencastle, Indiana, with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional slated for November 16.