EUGENE, Ore.  – The 2025 Bushnell Cross Country season kicks off this Friday when the Beacons compete in the Lewis & Clark Opener. With a healthy blend of newcomers and returners the men's and women's teams are looking to continue to make strides in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
 
Women's Cross Country
 
Picked to finish eighth in the CCC, the women's cross country team is are hoping to prove the voters wrong with a little upward mobility in 2025. "We came into the season with pretty high hopes," said third-year head coach Kyle Will. "Two years ago our women finished last in conference and we jumped to sixth place last year, and we have the potential to do something similar in a very tough conference. Our top three have been crushing it in practice so far, and the good news is the entire pack behind them is running tight."
 
Leading the way will be sophomore Cadence Smith who had a breakout year as a freshman and looks to fill the NAIA-qualifying shoes of Kaitlin Cook, now serving as an assistant coach with the program. "Cadence is one of our captains and is highly driven and motivated to succeed," said Coach Will. She is hungry to move up and qualify for nationals, and I know she has what it takes to do it with the way she keeps pushing."
 
Also returning to the Beacons are senior Noely Flores Fonseca, junior Sidney Lane and sophomores Adriana Alcantar Chavez, Jordan Lauinger, Karlee Myers, and Claire Switzer.
 
Eleven freshman student-athletes join the program this season as the new wave of talent looks to continue to elevate the program.
 
Leading the way are Alyssa Clark (Milton, Fla.) and Haley Jackson (Pocatello, Idaho) who have been running with and pushing Smith during preseason workouts. Coach Will said, "Alyssa is a middle-distance specialist on the track but has been absolutely killing it this fall. She doesn't back down from hard workouts despite her youth and she doesn't wilt under pressure. Haley is probably the strongest of our top runners, she just doesn't know it yet. I knew coming in that she would be a great addition to this team and she has proven that right away. She has a great attitude and just puts her head down and goes to work. From a pack standpoint, Cadence, Alyssa and Haley are sticking with each other and that is going to help make our team strong."
 
The next pack of runners is being anchored by former teammates at Springfield High School, Audrey Sommerville and Annika Kimball. "Having Annika and Audrey as teammates, bringing in great chemistry, elevates our team," said Coach Will. "Their familiarity helps them push each other to be better. Audrey is still coming off her summer track season and once she rounds into cross country shape, she won't be too far behind our top three, and pulling our entire second pack along with her. Annika is a hard worker with a ton of potential. As she learns to run with confidence she will be able to surprise us."
 
Also joining the program for 2025 are Ava Adams (Beaverton, Ore.), Baleigh Creech (Cottage Grove, Ore.), Hannah Irrgang (Obergurig, Germany), Sienna Lillebo (Otis, Ore.), Synnove Slayden (Eugene, Ore,./Marist HS), Destiny Vogl (Helena, Mont.) and Charlotte Weiskind (Eugene, Ore./Churchill HS).
 
Men's Cross Country
 
With just three newcomers joining a roster of ten returners, the 2025 men's cross country team will have a very similar feel to last season. After taking 11th-place at the CCC Championship, they have been slotted to finish a little higher this year and their goals are to continue to improve individually and as a team, on and off the course.  
 
Leading the way on the returner-heavy roster is junior Logan Gant. "Logan is killing it," said Will. "He is so disciplined and has been all summer. He is running the highest mileage on the team and he has a chance to qualify for nationals if he keeps running the way he is."
 
Right behind should be sophomore Ja White, who competed just three times last season while battling injury but produced the team's best 8000m time of the season at the Willamette Invitational. Coach Will said, "Ja has all the talent in the world, and if he continues to work hard, I am excited to see what he will be able to due during a full season.
 
Other leading players who are expected to contend for top-five scoring spots for the men include senior Sayer Pescosolido, junior Wyatt Pepiot, and sophomore Wyatt Humphrey.
 
Also returning to compete are senior Andrew Bennett, and sophomores Landyn Munyon, Hudson Gerlits, CJ Long, and Miguel Ramirez.
 
Ben Patterson (Loon Lake, Wash.) begins his collegiate career with the Beacons after helping to guide his Jenkins High team to a third-place finish at the state championships last season. "Ben came in with a bit of an injury. He is doing awesome and we can definitely see him being someone who can push for a spot in our top-five."
 
Lennox Zebrowsi joins the Beacons from Winnemucca, Nevada. Coach Will said, "Lennox has a fantastic attitude and is a very hard worker. He is a perfect Bushnell Kid and we are excited to have him on the team."
 
The final addition is Charlie Box (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon HS) who is returning to cross country after spending most of his prep career playing basketball for the Irish. "Charlie is a great kid and is loving be back on the course. Once he gets some mileage under his belt, we expect some great things from him."
 
Season Outlook
 
The Beacons will compete in six regular-season races this season, beginning with the Lewis & Clark Opener, taking place at McIver Park in Estacada on Friday.
 
The Beacons will host the Bushnell Invitational on October 24th at Pine Ridge Golf Course. This will the final race of the regular season, ahead of the CCC Championships on November 7, hosted by Corban University at Oak Knoll Golf Course in Independence, Oregon.
 
The NAIA National Championship races are slated for Friday, November 21 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.