2014 MCC Finish: 6th out of 6
Letterwinners returning/lost: 4/7

Notable returners:
Deja Lewis Jr. Spring, Texas
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 21:03)
Addison Kepner Sr. Cincinnati, Iowa
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 20:34)
Guadalupe Gonzalez So. Houston, Texas
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 22:26)
Cindy Walker Sr. New Sharon, Iowa
(Letterwinner, season-best 5K 26:00)

Notable losses:
Lilly Walters
(Two-time letterwinner)

Notable newcomers:
Alexys Devlin Jr. Davenport, Iowa
Destiny Galvin Fr. Galesburg, Ill.
Lauren Lehman Fr. Norwalk, Iowa
Kirstin Rankin Fr. Knoxville, Iowa

Depth will assist the William Penn women’s cross country team in becoming a contender as it opens competition in a new league this fall.

While the Statesmen were at the bottom of the standings in the 2014 Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships, Coach Sean Gosewisch returns his top talent from last autumn and has brought in a handful of new harriers to hopefully round out a successful squad.

Back in the navy and gold are WPU’s top three runners: Deja Lewis (Jr., Spring, Texas, Psychology), Addison Kepner (Sr., Cincinnati, Iowa, Biology), and Guadalupe Gonzalez (So., Houston, Texas). All three finished in the top 30 at last year’s MCC meet and with a year under their belts, many more high finishes are projected in their future. Kepner came up with the best 5K time of the group at 20:34, while Lewis’ best was 21:03 and Gonzalez’s was 22:26.

Like Kepner, Cindy Walker (Sr., New Sharon, Iowa, Public Accounting) also looks to improve and impress in her final collegiate campaign.

Four newcomers join the fold with Alexys Devlin (Jr., Davenport, Iowa, Physical Education) holding the edge based on prior experience at the intercollegiate level (competed at Scott CC). Destiny Galvin (Fr., Galesburg, Ill.), Lauren Lehman (Fr., Norwalk, Iowa, Undecided), and Kirsti Rankin (Fr., Knoxville, Iowa, Exercise Science) will also improve as they pile on the mileage every week.

Schedule/Conference

The 2015 schedule begins with a trip to South Dakota for the Augustana Twilight on September 4. A conservative racing schedule will include four more competitions before William Penn hosts the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships on November 7 out at the Lacey Complex. Benedictine (Kan.) looks to defend its crown after rolling to the 2014 title.

Story by Wade Steinlage