EWING, N.J. – It was a competitive battle at the top in the 2026 NJAC Cross Country Championship, but the TCNJ women's cross country team would not be denied on their home course.
 
For the first time since 2023, the Lions claimed the NJAC women's cross country title. TCNJ finished on 32 points, which was just five points ahead of second-place Rowan. Every runner played a significant role in determining the eventual winner, the Lions were paced by Naesha Gadie in third and Teagan Walker in fourth. Gadie posted a time of 22:09.0, and Walker finished just eight tenths of a second after the senior (22:09.8). Rowan runners finished second and fifth to round out the top five, locking the Profs and Lions in a tie on seven points.
 
Crucially, TCNJ runners finished in sixth and seventh place. Ella Daly crossed the line in sixth place with a time of 22:29.5, and Ava Biemuller followed a few seconds later in seventh (22:34.7). The Profs' Juliana Sieminski and Kayla Romanoski finished in eighth and ninth after Daly and Biemuller, but TCNJ rookie Alexis Smith confirmed the victory for the Lions by coming in 12^th (23:25.2).
 
With this performance, TCNJ improved upon two consecutive second-place team finishes at the NJAC championship. This conference title marks the program's 32^nd NJAC title. The Lions will get a well-deserved week off before heading to Galloway, New Jersey for the Metro Region Championship on November 16.