EWING, N.J – To start off the new 2026 season, the TCNJ women's cross country team ran to a runner-up team finish in its annual Herb Lorenz Invitational.
 
A pair of freshmen—Ananya Raja and Chloe Mellott—led the way for the Lions in their first competitive collegiate race. Raja placed fifth (20:13.8) and was followed my Mellott (20:19.7) across the finish line a few seconds later in sixth place.
 
Amaya Zorrilla made it three runners in the top ten for TCNJ. The junior traversed the five-kilometer course in a personal-best 20.22.1, finishing in eighth place. Fellow junior Alyssa Maybeck (16^th, 21:28.9), as well as sophomores Mia Zicchinella (18^th, 21:35.3) and Alissa Stumpf (20^th, 21:58.3), all finished amongst the top twenty places. Finally, freshman Layla Guarcello finished the course in 24^th (22:27.2) to round out TCNJ's top-seven runners on the day.
 
The Lions now look ahead to next Saturday's DeSales Invitational in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Action is scheduled to begni at 10:30 AM on September 19^th.