LEBANON, Pa. - Eastern Women's Cross Country began its 2026 season at the 2026 LVC Dutchmen Cross Country Invitational on Saturday morning. The Eagles placed fifth out of 12 competing teams with a score of 122. It was Eastern's best finish and score since placing fifth at the Aggie Open with 112 points last September. Additionally, their fifth place finish was one place higher than they finished in the event last year.

Sophomore Ashley Bitler, coming off a season where she finished Third Team All-MAC, began her sophomore season in the top 10, placing seventh overall with a time of 19:43.8 in the 5k race. She averaged 3:57 per kilometer.

Tierra Hill finished in 21:03.4 and averaged 4:13 per kilometer, while Kayleigh Newsome also finished sub 22 with time of 21:48.4. She averaged 4:22 per kilometer.

Talia Fogel, Gisella Croge, and Helena Stoffel each finished with personal bests in the 5k. Fogel finished in 22:01.9, Croge crossed the finish line in 22:26.8, and Stoffel finished in 22:46.7, nearly a full two minutes faster than her time a season ago in the same race.

"Today was an amazing showing on both sides for the men and women. I am really impressed by this team and enjoyed watching them work together as they raced close to one another for our first race of the season," Eastern Head Coach Samantha David said. "This is just a glimpse of what these teams are capable of achieving this fall. We are just getting started."

Eastern will be back in action in two weeks for the MAC Championship Preview at Stevenson.