University of Delaware Athletics
Cross Country/Track & Field Announce 2026-27 Newcomers
8/14/2026 3:26:00 PM | Women's Cross Country, Track & Field
NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware Cross Country/Track & Field program welcomes 17 newcomers to the roster for the 2026-27 season; head coach Josh Hayman announced on Friday.
Hurdles & Multi-Events
Olivia Wallace — Lake Braddock, Burke, Va.
PRs: 100H 14.43 | 300H 43.02 | 400H 1:02.27
Wallace was the runner-up at the 2026 Virginia 6A State Championships in the 300-hurdles and placed fourth in the 100-hurdles. She qualified for and finished 18th in the 400-hurdles at the 2026 New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Rylee Coates — Northampton, Eastville, Va.
PRs: 60H 8.99 | 100H 14.45 | High Jump 5-5 | Long Jump 18-3 | Pole Vault 11-6
A 19-time Virginia State Champion across hurdles, jumps, sprints, and vault events, Coates qualified for both New Balance Indoor and Outdoor Nationals in the hurdles. She also anchored a second-place team finish at the 2026 VHSL 1A State Championships.
Camryn DeMorat — Mainland Regional, Linwood, N.J.
PRs: 55H 8.23 | 60H 9.06 | 100H 14.72 | Long Jump 18-3 | 200m 25.52
A multiple-time Group and Meet of Champions qualifier in New Jersey, DeMorat's top finishes include fourth in the indoor 55-hurdles and 6th in the outdoor 100-hurdles. She also qualified for the 2026 New Balance Indoor Championships in the 60-hurdles.
Sprints
Samantha Weinert — Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, Del.
PRs: 100m 12.19 | 200m 24.86 | 400m 56.89
Weinert was the 2026 Delaware State Champion in both the 100-meters and 200-meters. A state qualifier in swimming as well, she was ranked 11th on the Delaware News Journal's list of the state's best athletes in 2026.
Claire Magee — Paul VI, Haddonfield, N.J.
PRs: 100m 12.22 | 200m 25.12 | 400m 55.69 | 800m 2:19.36
The Haddonfield, N.J. native placed 5th in the 400-meters at the 2026 NJSIAA Indoor Group Championships and 6th in 2025. She also finished 6th at the 2024 Adidas Indoor Track National Championships.
Alexandra Watson — Bellerose Composite, St. Albert, Alberta (Canada)
PRs: 400m 55.91 | 400H 1:01.92
A four-time Team Alberta representative at the Canadian Legion National Championships, Watson has earned multiple national medals. At the U-18 level, she placed second indoors in the 400-meters, 6th outdoors in the 400-hurdles, and won three golds at the 2025 Western Canadian Team Challenge. She also finished second at the 2026 Canadian U20 Track and Field Championships.
Throws
Jecolia Traore — James M. Bennett, Salisbury, Md.
PRs: Shot Put 34-5 | Discus 126-1
Traore is a four-time Maryland State Champion. She has won titles in both the discus and shot put, and qualified for the 2025 New Balance Outdoor National Championships in the shot put.
Distance
Emerson Brinn — South Fork, Fla.
PRs: 800m 2:13.93 | 1600m 4:56.82 | 5K XC 18:16
Emerson finished in the top 20 at the Florida State Cross Country Championships three times, with her best finish of eighth in 2024. On the track, she earned a third-place finish in the mile at the 2025 FHSAA Outdoor State Championships.
Julia Flannagan — Holy Cross, Delran, N.J.
PRs: 1600m 4:58.38 | 3200m 10:29.07 | 5K 17:21.09 | 17:37 5K XC
A five-time New Jersey Group Champion on the track, Flannagan won the 2025 NJSIAA cross country state championship. She claimed group titles in both the mile and two-mile, and qualified for New Balance Outdoor Nationals, finishing 12th in the 5000-meters this past June.
Ariana Lopez — James W. Robinson Secondary, Fairfax, Va.
PRs: 1600m 5:01.62 | 3200m 10:48.21 | 5K XC 17:40.10
Lopez is a multiple-time Virginia State Championship qualifier, whose best finishes were 3rd on the track and 8th in cross country. She helped her team win the 6A state championship in Cross Country twice. The Fairfax, Virginia native also placed 28th at the 2025 Nike Cross Southeast Regional Championships.
Ella Pfautz — Ephrata, Pa.
PRs: 1600m- 5:13.38 | 3200m 11:04 | 5K XC 18:29
Pfautz is a multi-time state qualifier in Pennsylvania, with a best finish of 34th at the 2025 cross country state championship.
Maddie Meder— Cherokee, Marlton, N.J.
PRs: 1600m 5:01 | 3200m 11:03 | 5K XC 18:07
A multiple-time Group Championship qualifier in New Jersey, Meder's best finishes were 5th on the track and 7th in cross country.
Riley Fayer — Audubon, N.J.
PRs: 800m 2:15.24 | 1500m 4:31.01 | 1600m 4:52.48 | 5K XC 18:18.40
Fayer was the 2026 New Jersey Group Champion in the indoor mile and picked up multiple runner-up finishes in the 800-meters, mile, and 3200-meters. In cross country, she capped her senior season with a third-place finish. She qualified for both the indoor and outdoor New Balance National Championships.
Anaelle Gourguechon — Paris, France
PRs: 800m 2:11.44 | 1500m 4:36.01
Gourguechon is a consistent championship finalist, who placed 4th in multiple U-18 and U-20 French National Championship races in both the 800-meters and 1500-meters.
Claire Dufrene — Warrior Run, Turbotville, Pa.
PRs: 800m 2:15.25 | 1600m 4:59.56 | 5K XC 18:06
Dufrene won the 2024 Pennsylvania State Cross Country Championship and followed it with a 10th-place finish in 2025. She is a multi-time PIAA State Track Championships qualifier with her best finish being 5th in the 1600-meters. She also qualified for both indoor and outdoor New Balance National Championships in 2025 and 2026.
Transfers
Reese Ragland — Distance | Louisville, Ky. (Tulane)
PRs: 1500m 4:24.76 | Mile 4:48.10 | 6K XC 21:38
The Louisville, Kentucky native is a multiple-time All-Conference performer in the American Athletic Conference. Her career highlights include a third-place finish in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500-meters in 2025.
Beata Wrigstad — Distance | FIU, Lund, Sweden (FIU)
PRs: 1500m 4:33 | 3000m Steeplechase 10:37 | 6K XC 21:13
The distance runner from Sweden is a medalist at the 2025 Nordic Games in the 3000-meters Steeplechase. Wrigstad also placed 5th and 7th at the Swedish National Championships and 2nd at the Swedish U-18 Championships.
Hurdles & Multi-Events
Olivia Wallace — Lake Braddock, Burke, Va.
PRs: 100H 14.43 | 300H 43.02 | 400H 1:02.27
Wallace was the runner-up at the 2026 Virginia 6A State Championships in the 300-hurdles and placed fourth in the 100-hurdles. She qualified for and finished 18th in the 400-hurdles at the 2026 New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Rylee Coates — Northampton, Eastville, Va.
PRs: 60H 8.99 | 100H 14.45 | High Jump 5-5 | Long Jump 18-3 | Pole Vault 11-6
A 19-time Virginia State Champion across hurdles, jumps, sprints, and vault events, Coates qualified for both New Balance Indoor and Outdoor Nationals in the hurdles. She also anchored a second-place team finish at the 2026 VHSL 1A State Championships.
Camryn DeMorat — Mainland Regional, Linwood, N.J.
PRs: 55H 8.23 | 60H 9.06 | 100H 14.72 | Long Jump 18-3 | 200m 25.52
A multiple-time Group and Meet of Champions qualifier in New Jersey, DeMorat's top finishes include fourth in the indoor 55-hurdles and 6th in the outdoor 100-hurdles. She also qualified for the 2026 New Balance Indoor Championships in the 60-hurdles.
Sprints
Samantha Weinert — Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, Del.
PRs: 100m 12.19 | 200m 24.86 | 400m 56.89
Weinert was the 2026 Delaware State Champion in both the 100-meters and 200-meters. A state qualifier in swimming as well, she was ranked 11th on the Delaware News Journal's list of the state's best athletes in 2026.
Claire Magee — Paul VI, Haddonfield, N.J.
PRs: 100m 12.22 | 200m 25.12 | 400m 55.69 | 800m 2:19.36
The Haddonfield, N.J. native placed 5th in the 400-meters at the 2026 NJSIAA Indoor Group Championships and 6th in 2025. She also finished 6th at the 2024 Adidas Indoor Track National Championships.
Alexandra Watson — Bellerose Composite, St. Albert, Alberta (Canada)
PRs: 400m 55.91 | 400H 1:01.92
A four-time Team Alberta representative at the Canadian Legion National Championships, Watson has earned multiple national medals. At the U-18 level, she placed second indoors in the 400-meters, 6th outdoors in the 400-hurdles, and won three golds at the 2025 Western Canadian Team Challenge. She also finished second at the 2026 Canadian U20 Track and Field Championships.
Throws
Jecolia Traore — James M. Bennett, Salisbury, Md.
PRs: Shot Put 34-5 | Discus 126-1
Traore is a four-time Maryland State Champion. She has won titles in both the discus and shot put, and qualified for the 2025 New Balance Outdoor National Championships in the shot put.
Distance
Emerson Brinn — South Fork, Fla.
PRs: 800m 2:13.93 | 1600m 4:56.82 | 5K XC 18:16
Emerson finished in the top 20 at the Florida State Cross Country Championships three times, with her best finish of eighth in 2024. On the track, she earned a third-place finish in the mile at the 2025 FHSAA Outdoor State Championships.
Julia Flannagan — Holy Cross, Delran, N.J.
PRs: 1600m 4:58.38 | 3200m 10:29.07 | 5K 17:21.09 | 17:37 5K XC
A five-time New Jersey Group Champion on the track, Flannagan won the 2025 NJSIAA cross country state championship. She claimed group titles in both the mile and two-mile, and qualified for New Balance Outdoor Nationals, finishing 12th in the 5000-meters this past June.
Ariana Lopez — James W. Robinson Secondary, Fairfax, Va.
PRs: 1600m 5:01.62 | 3200m 10:48.21 | 5K XC 17:40.10
Lopez is a multiple-time Virginia State Championship qualifier, whose best finishes were 3rd on the track and 8th in cross country. She helped her team win the 6A state championship in Cross Country twice. The Fairfax, Virginia native also placed 28th at the 2025 Nike Cross Southeast Regional Championships.
Ella Pfautz — Ephrata, Pa.
PRs: 1600m- 5:13.38 | 3200m 11:04 | 5K XC 18:29
Pfautz is a multi-time state qualifier in Pennsylvania, with a best finish of 34th at the 2025 cross country state championship.
Maddie Meder— Cherokee, Marlton, N.J.
PRs: 1600m 5:01 | 3200m 11:03 | 5K XC 18:07
A multiple-time Group Championship qualifier in New Jersey, Meder's best finishes were 5th on the track and 7th in cross country.
Riley Fayer — Audubon, N.J.
PRs: 800m 2:15.24 | 1500m 4:31.01 | 1600m 4:52.48 | 5K XC 18:18.40
Fayer was the 2026 New Jersey Group Champion in the indoor mile and picked up multiple runner-up finishes in the 800-meters, mile, and 3200-meters. In cross country, she capped her senior season with a third-place finish. She qualified for both the indoor and outdoor New Balance National Championships.
Anaelle Gourguechon — Paris, France
PRs: 800m 2:11.44 | 1500m 4:36.01
Gourguechon is a consistent championship finalist, who placed 4th in multiple U-18 and U-20 French National Championship races in both the 800-meters and 1500-meters.
Claire Dufrene — Warrior Run, Turbotville, Pa.
PRs: 800m 2:15.25 | 1600m 4:59.56 | 5K XC 18:06
Dufrene won the 2024 Pennsylvania State Cross Country Championship and followed it with a 10th-place finish in 2025. She is a multi-time PIAA State Track Championships qualifier with her best finish being 5th in the 1600-meters. She also qualified for both indoor and outdoor New Balance National Championships in 2025 and 2026.
Transfers
Reese Ragland — Distance | Louisville, Ky. (Tulane)
PRs: 1500m 4:24.76 | Mile 4:48.10 | 6K XC 21:38
The Louisville, Kentucky native is a multiple-time All-Conference performer in the American Athletic Conference. Her career highlights include a third-place finish in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500-meters in 2025.
Beata Wrigstad — Distance | FIU, Lund, Sweden (FIU)
PRs: 1500m 4:33 | 3000m Steeplechase 10:37 | 6K XC 21:13
The distance runner from Sweden is a medalist at the 2025 Nordic Games in the 3000-meters Steeplechase. Wrigstad also placed 5th and 7th at the Swedish National Championships and 2nd at the Swedish U-18 Championships.
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