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Women's Cross Country Season Preview

8/29/2024 4:50:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Va. –The Washington and Lee Women’s Cross Country team, ranked No. 25 nationally and third in the South Region, opens its 2024 season this Friday.

Head Coach Michael Dager, now in his 11th season with the Generals, welcomes a strong roster of 26 harriers, including a talented group of five first-year athletes eager to make their mark.

The team returns six of their top-7 runners from last season, including key contributors like NCAA All-Region performers Sophia Breschi, Kristin Clodgo Claire Hamlet, Mimi Kemp and Reese Brown, setting the stage for another competitive season.

USTFCCCA NATIONAL POLL

The Washington and Lee University women’s cross country team enters the 2024 season with strong rankings on both the regional and national levels. In the USTFCCCA Division III Preseason Poll, the Generals are ranked 25th nationally with 56 points, positioning them among the nation’s top programs.

In the South Region, W&L is ranked third, following Lynchburg and Emory. Both Lynchburg and Emory return strong squads and rank inside the top-10 on the national list. The Hornets are slated to finish fifth and Emory checked in at No. 7.

W&L is poised to compete closely with these teams with six of the 2023 squad's top-7 returning to the starting box. With a mix of veteran experience and new talent, the Generals are ready to challenge the south region dominance and continue to climb the ladder on the national stage. They look to build on last season’s successes and continue to push for postseason excellence.

NYU is the unanimous favorite to win the national title come November in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Violets return six of seven runners from a squad that finished runner-up at the NCAA Championships last year. Two of those returners are All-America performers. This is the third time in the past two years that NYU has been ranked No. 1 in the National Coaches’ Poll.

National Poll | Regional Poll

Instead of a conference pre-season poll, ODAC Associate Commissioner JJ Nekoloff interviewed three coaches from around the league, including W&L Men's Cross Country Head Coach Brandon Spalding, to discuss the outlook for the upcoming season.

2024 ODAC Cross Country Preview

SCHEDULE PREVIEW

The Washington and Lee women’s cross country team will kick off their 2024 season at the Bridgewater Cross Country Challenge on August 30. The Generals will then face tough competition at the Virginia Tech Invitational on September 6, competing against Division I and II teams, followed by the Dickinson Long/Short Invite on September 28.

In October, the team will challenge themselves at Lehigh University’s Paul Short Invitational on October 5 against Division I competitors again and continue with the Royals Cross Country Challenge on October 11.

As the postseason approaches, the squad will do a final tune-up at the Connecticut College Cross Country Invitational and ODAC Championships Preview on October 19.

The Generals will aim for a strong performance at the ODAC Championships in Salem, Va., on November 2. They will then compete at the NCAA South Region Championships on November 16, hosted by Millsaps College, with the goal of securing a spot at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute on November 23.

Check out the full 2024 W&L women's cross country season HERE.

Kristen Clodgo runs in the 2022 NCAA DIII Championship's race.

KEY RETURNERS

The Washington and Lee women’s cross country team returns several key runners who excelled in both the 2023 ODAC and Regional Championships. Sophia Breschi led the Generals at ODACs, finishing 9th with a time of 22:35.4, earning All-ODAC Second Team honors and later securing All-Region recognition with a 17th place finish at Regionals (22:46.88).

National Qualifier Claire Hamlet placed 12th at ODACs (23:04.0) and 15th at Regionals (22:33.28), also earning All-Region for the second consecutive year.

Reese Brown finished 14th at ODACs (23:07.5) and 21st at Regionals (22:57.21), earning All-ODAC and All-Region honors as a first-year.

A 2022 National qualifier, Kristen Clodgo clocked in at 23:11.2 at ODACs, placing 15th, and earned her third consecutive All-Region accolade by finishing 32nd at Regionals (23:23.82).

Mimi Kemp rounded out the top performers with a 23rd place finish at ODACs (24:02.1) and placed 22nd at Regionals (23:01.45), securing her second All-Region honor. These returning athletes will be vital to the team’s success in 2024.

Collegiate cross country fans will recognize Cassie Carr as a new addition to the Blue and White. Carr, now racing for W&L as a first-year law student, built an impressive undergraduate resume while at Washington & Jefferson College. She is a two-time CSC Academic All-American, the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Elite 90 Award winner, and has twice qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship. Carr earned All-Region honors three times and was named First Team All-PAC in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The 2024 Women's Cross Country Captains (left to right): Ada Vera, Mimi Kemp, Sophia Breschi, Claire Hamlet

Claire Hamlet, a senior from Ridgewood, N.J., is a standout member of the Washington and Lee women’s cross country team and a 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship qualifier.

In 2023, she placed 15th at the NCAA Regional Championships and 12th at the ODAC Championships, showcasing her consistent performance throughout the season.

Academically, Claire has earned multiple accolades, including USTFCCCA All-Academic honors and Academic All-ODAC recognition.

Her leadership as a co-captain and her dedication both on and off the course make her an invaluable asset to the team and be able to provide insight into her national experiences.

Sophia Breschi, a junior from Red Lion, Pa., has excelled on the cross country course, in the classroom, and within the community.

As a two-time All-Region performer, she placed 9th in the 2023 ODAC Championships and 17th in the NCAA Regional Championships to earn All-ODAC and All-Region recognition.

Academically, Sophia is a USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, a W&L Scholar-Athlete, and has earned Academic All-ODAC laurels.

Beyond her athletic and academic pursuits, she is actively involved in community service, volunteering with Campus Kitchen and serving as a team leader with the Earth Actions Leader program and is serving as a co-captain for the first time at W&L.

Mimi Kemp, a senior from Richmond, Va., is serving as a co-captain for the Washington and Lee women’s cross country team in the 2024 season and was also a co-captain last year.

Majoring in Neuroscience, Mimi has been a consistent performer, earning All-Region honors and placing 22nd at the NCAA Regional Championship in 2023.

Kemp took 23rd in the 2023 ODAC championships, 25th in 2022 and was an All-Region and Second Team All-ODAC honoree as a rookie.

She has also been recognized for her work in the classroom, earning USTFCCCA All-Academic and Academic All-ODAC honors multiple times

Adia Vera, a senior from Kyle, Texas, serves as a co-captain for the Washington and Lee women’s cross country team in the 2024-25 season.

Majoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Adia has consistently contributed to the team’s success, with strong finishes in the ODAC Championships, including 28th place in 2022.

She is a dedicated scholar-athlete, earning Academic All-ODAC honors each year and W&L Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Preseason has been an exciting time for us. Our captains have shown outstanding leadership, and our new team members have brought great energy to every practice. The team broke every August time trial record we’ve kept, and they are eager to kick off the season at Bridgewater this week.

Head Coach Michael Dager

Meet the Women's Cross Country Class of 2028 - Catch them in action on Friday August 30th at Bridgewater College.

Washington and Lee University

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