HOLMDEL, N.J. — Wagner's women took second place in the 2026 season opener for cross country, scoring 51 at the Back to the Bowl meet on Saturday.
Hosted by Stevens at Holmdel Park on a 5K course, this was Wagner's second year to compete in the event. Four of five Seahawks finished in the top 15, putting the team just behind the host Stevens.
Senior Victoria Ann Dziubela led the way for the Seahawks, finishing third with a 20:38.3 time on the course. She took six seconds off her time from the same meet last season, also moving up two places in the finish.
Graduate Angelina Olah and junior Kate Connolly joined Dziubela in the top ten, taking fifth and sixth place, respectively. Olah logged a 21:14.4 time, shaving off roughly one minute from when she ran unattached in last year's meet. Connolly ran a 21:25.2 5K time as Wagner's third finisher.
Newcomer Kayla Schnell came next, finishing 15th with a 23:05.8 in her collegiate debut. Another newcomer via a redshirt her freshman year, redshirt freshman Jessica Diaz ran a 27:46.2 time to round out Wagner's runners.
The meet represents a tough short course for the Seahawks as they look ahead to longer distances but less physical courses. The challenges of Holmdel Park have the team prepared for the LIU Fall Festival, a 6K course that will have Wagner competing against NEC competition for the first time in 2026.
Next up, the Seahawks head to Brookville, New York on Friday, Sept. 18 to LIU's Post campus for the LIU Fall Festival, with the women competing on a 6K course.
