BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – With fall athletics beginning this week in NCAA Division III, the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) released its preseason coaches' poll in anticipation of the upcoming women's cross country season. The Geneva College women placed third in the poll, matching their ranking from last year's preseason and garnering four of the 12 available first place votes. The Allegheny Gators, last year's PAC champions, received the top spot in the rankings as well as four first place votes of their own.

Despite Geneva's high ranking in last season's preseason poll, injuries and health concerns limited the Golden Tornadoes all semester long, with their top two runners, Carmen Medvit and Hailey Carroll, missing the vast majority of the season. Both are back this year for their senior season, just two years removed from their joint trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship meet in 2023. They will lead a Geneva team that is eager to improve upon its sixth-place finish in last year's PAC Championships.

In addition to Medvit, who was the top finisher for Geneva at the PAC Championships, the women return two of their other top five runners from the championship meet. Sophomore Audrey McAlister is back after an excellent freshman season in which she ended up being Geneva's fourth-place finisher at the PAC meet, and she is joined by last season's fifth-place finisher, junior Jordann Hicks. Behind them, the Golden Tornadoes boast a strong sophomore class that featured three runners (Ayva Fetterolf, Miranda Bailey, and Sienna Jackson) who placed in the top 75 at PACs last season. Senior Lia Vastano was also a top-75 finisher.

Head coach Phil Thompson brings in a freshman class of five runners to round out his roster, pushing Geneva's squad up to 21 women.

The GTs begin their season at the Westminster Fisher Invite this Friday, August 29^th, with the meet set to begin at 6:45 p.m.

Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).