PRESCOTT, Wis. - The University of Northwestern Women's Cross Country team opened its 2026 season in a competitive field at the UW-River Falls River Town Invitational on Friday evening. Seniors Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) and Natalie Van De Riet (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) both turned in top-20 results in the 6,000-meter race.

Maki, who has had a stellar career in the Northwestern uniform, opened her final season with a 16th-place finish in 25:41.8. Van De Riet came in two places behind Maki with a time of 26:06.5.

Sophomore Chloe Zimmerman (Helena, Mont./Capital) finished 37th overall, earning 29 points for Northwestern with a time of 28:17.0. Collecting 31 points, Isabelle Yuhanna (Ham Lake, Minn./North Lakes Academy) turned in a 28:55.1 performance in 42nd place. Three runners later, Samary Acuna (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) earned the final points for Northwestern with her finish of 29:19.9.

Alicia Arredondo (Robbinsdale, Minn./Homeschool), Mariah Klippenes (South Haven, Minn./Annandale), and Torah Barrett (Belle Plaine, Minn./Jordan) were the next three Eagles to cross the finish line in 48th, 50th, and 51st place, respectively; they each clocked a time of 29:27.6, 30:00.5, and 30:05.9. Faith Matvey (Meadowlands, Minn./Lakeview Christian Academy), in her last first Northwestern race, turned in a 31:37.4 finish.

The final five runners for the UNW were Olivia Usselman (Stillwater, Minn./Math and Science Academy), Grace Steele (Shafer, Minn./Chisago Lakes), Kaylee Kent (Hugo, Minn./Homeschool), Claire Nelsen (Elkton, Minn./Southland), and Kennedy Van De Riet (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville). This meet marked the first collegiate race for Steele, Kent, and Nelsen, setting their low marks at 33:37.3, 34:10.4, and 37:54.3, respectively.
 
With the first race jitters out of the way, the Eagles will return to the course in Morris, Minnesota, next week, September 11, at 5:00 PM.