UNC Cross Country 2026-2027

[3397char]

The UNC Cross Country season starts tomorrow , so it is high time we start a thread for this season. I thought it might be cleaner to separate out T&F from XC this season, but we can change that if you prefer.

2026 XC Roster
2026 XC Schedule

NCAA Preseason ranked #13 by USTFCCCA Coaches Poll
ACC Preseason Ranked #3 in coaches poll

Starters Returning:

1. 3Y (Jr) Logan St John Kletter - Best: 6K (XC) 19:43.5 - 2025 NCAA (72nd), 2025 ACC (23rd)
2. 4Y (R-Jr) Ciara O'Shea - Best: 6K (XC) 19:51.0 - 2025 NCAA (98th), 2025 ACC (27th)
3. 3Y (Jr) Maddie Gardiner - Best: 6K (XC) 20:14.9 - 2025 NCAA (153rd), 2025 ACC (36th)
4. 2Y (So) Hannah Rae Shaffer - Best: 6K (XC) 20:33.6 - 2025 NCAA (219th), 2025 ACC (88th)
5. 2Y (So) Kinley Wolfe - Best: 6K (XC) 20:51.0 - 2025 NCAA (227th), 2025 ACC (104th)

Other Returning Distance Runners:

1. 2Y (So) Reese Dalton - Competed in 1 race
2. 3Y (Jr) Julia Scrudato - Competed in 1 race
3. 2Y (So) Katelyn Rupe - Competed in 2 races
4. 2Y (So) Libby Castelli - Competed in 2 races

*there are other listed distance runners on the roster but no real UNC XC experience; most appear to be track specialists at shorter distances.

Incoming Transfers for 2026:

1. 5Y (R-Sr) Pia Beaulieu - Princeton Bio - Played soccer at Princeton in fall so no XC in college so far - Previously only ran in Mile, 1500 and Steeple - Ivy Champ in Steeple - Best 3000S 9:52.54 -
2. 5Y (R-Sr) Camryn Wennersten - Furman Bio - Best: 6K (XC) 21:46.5 - redshirted 2025-26 - 2022 SoCon XC All-Freshman Team - SoCon Champ in the Mile - Signing day

Incoming Class of 2026:

#	Player_Name	Position	Personal_Bests	Awards_and_Notables	High_School_&_State	Signed
1	Nina Chalmers	Distance	2:10.38 (800) 4:26.35 (1500)	U18 NZ XC Champ U18 NZ 1500m Champ	Auckland, NZ	Yes
2	Ellie Barada	Mid-distance	4:43.60 (Mile) 2:03.95 (800)	USA U-20 800M Worlds Nike Nationals 800m Champ 2026 US #3 800m	Bloomington South (IN)	Yes
3	Jane Hickey	Mid-distance	2:03.61 (800) 54.28 (400)	4th All-time HS 600M NY 800M Champ NB Naty's 800M 4th 2026 #2 800M recruit	Ursuline School (NY)	Yes

The Stride Report #23 in preseason rankings:


Their projected lineup:

2027 Commitments:

#	Player_Name	Position	Personal_Bests	Awards_and_Notables	High_School_&_State	Signed
1
2
3

Starters Lost:

1. 5Y (Gr) Vera Sjoberg** - Best: 6K (XC) 18:56.5 - 2025 XC All-America (8th), 2025 All-ACC Performer (6th)
2. 5Y (Gr) Brynn Brown** - Best: 6K (XC) 19:38.9 - 2024 XC All-America (38th), 2025 All-ACC Performer (14th) - missed much of the CC season last year

Other past key contributors lost:

• 5Y (GR) Kelsey Harrington** - College best: 6K (XC) 19:41.8 - DNP in 2025 - 2022 Cross Country All-America (17th), 2022 & 2021 All-ACC Performer (11th & 14th) 40th in 2023 ACCC
• 5Y (Gr) Sydney Mascarelli** - College best: 6K (XC) 20.30.3 - Redshirted in 2025 - Made a huge jump in steeplechase last spring, will this translate to CC this season? - Started for UNC in ACCCC 2022-2024, started in NCAA in 2024
• 5Y (Gr) Makayla Paige** - College best: 6K (XC) 20.30.3 - Redshirted XC in 2024 & 2025 - 75th in ACCC in 2023

** There is an outside possibility that any of these women could attempt additional eligibility but none are currently listed on the UNC roster.


The UNC Track & Field/Cross Country 2025-2026 Thread

 

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Placeholder for Men's Cross Country

 

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The Virginia Invitational is tomorrow (Friday) at 8:45 AM, hosted by UVA.

Live results here

In past season we have started more slowly at the UNC Charlotte race with lighter competition. Depending on who participates for UNC, we may get a much quicker feel than usual how this team stacks up. But also like past season openers, this is a shorter course, so a little less instructive, perhaps.

Howard, Johns Hopkins, Norfolk, UNC, UVA, WF, & W&M, all competing.

 

[3397char]

The start list as of right now:

BEAULIEU Pia	38	F	North Carolina	[SR]	5k
CASTELLI Libby	39	F	North Carolina	[FR]	5k
DELISI Alli	40	F	North Carolina	[FR]	5k
GARDINER Maddie	41	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
HANSON Grace	42	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k
HIGGINS Maelynn	43	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
O'SHEA Ciara	44	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
RUPE Katelyn	45	F	North Carolina	[FR]	5k
SCOTT Cassidy	46	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k
SHAFFER Hannah Rae	47	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k
ST. JOHN-KLETTER Logan	48	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
WENNERSTEN Camryn	49	F	North Carolina	[SR]	5k
WOLFE Kinley	50	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k

There are some notable absences: our entire freshman class, Dalton and Scrudato. I do not believe this race has a participant limit per team.

 

[Jriv23]

The UNC Cross Country season starts tomorrow , so it is high time we start a thread for this season. I thought it might be cleaner to separate out T&F from XC this season, but we can change that if you prefer.

2026 XC Roster
2026 XC Schedule

NCAA Preseason ranked #13 by USTFCCCA Coaches Poll
ACC Preseason Ranked #3 in coaches poll

Starters Returning:

1. 3Y (Jr) Logan St John Kletter - Best: 6K (XC) 19:43.5 - 2025 NCAA (72nd), 2025 ACC (23rd)
2. 4Y (R-Jr) Ciara O'Shea - Best: 6K (XC) 19:51.0 - 2025 NCAA (98th), 2025 ACC (27th)
3. 3Y (Jr) Maddie Gardiner - Best: 6K (XC) 20:14.9 - 2025 NCAA (153rd), 2025 ACC (36th)
4. 2Y (So) Hannah Rae Shaffer - College best: 6K (XC) 20:33.6 - 2025 NCAA (219th), 2025 ACC (88th)
5. 2Y (So) Kinley Wolfe - College best: 6K (XC) 20:51.0 - 2025 NCAA (227th), 2025 ACC (104th)

Other Returning Distance Runners:

1. 2Y (So) Reese Dalton - Competed in 1 race
2. 3Y (Jr) Julia Scrudato - Competed in 1 race
3. 2Y (So) Katelyn Rupe - Competed in 2 races
4. 2Y (So) Libby Castelli - Competed in 2 races

*there are other listed distance runners on the roster but no real UNC XC experience; most appear to be track specialists at shorter distances.

Incoming Transfers for 2026:

1. 5Y (R-Sr) Pia Beaulieu - Princeton Bio - Played soccer at Princeton in fall so no XC in college so far - Previously only ran in Mile, 1500 and Steeple - Ivy Champ in Steeple - Best 3000S 9:52.54 -
2. 5Y (R-Sr) Camryn Wennersten - Furman Bio - Best: 6K (XC) 21:46.5 - redshirted 2025-26 - 2022 SoCon XC All-Freshman Team - SoCon Champ in the Mile - Signing day

Incoming Class of 2026:

#	Player_Name	Position	Personal_Bests	Awards_and_Notables	High_School_&_State	Signed
1	Nina Chalmers	Distance	2:10.38 (800) 4:26.35 (1500)	U18 NZ XC Champ U18 NZ 1500m Champ	Auckland, NZ	Yes
2	Ellie Barada	Mid-distance	4:43.60 (Mile) 2:03.95 (800)	USA U-20 800M Worlds Nike Nationals 800m Champ 2026 US #3 800m	Bloomington South (IN)	Yes
3	Jane Hickey	Mid-distance	2:03.61 (800) 54.28 (400)	4th All-time HS 600M NY 800M Champ NB Naty's 800M 4th 2026 #2 800M recruit	Ursuline School (NY)	Yes

The Stride Report #23 in preseason rankings:


Their projected lineup:
View attachment 1430987
2027 Commitments:

#	Player_Name	Position	Personal_Bests	Awards_and_Notables	High_School_&_State	Signed
1
2
3

Starters Lost:

1. 5Y (Gr) Vera Sjoberg** - Best: 6K (XC) 18:56.5 - 2025 XC All-America (8th), 2025 All-ACC Performer (6th)
2. 5e Y (Gr) Brynn Brown** - Best: 6K (XC) 19:38.9 - 2024 XC All-America (38th), 2025 All-ACC Performer (14th) - missed much of the CC season last year

Other past key contributors lost:

• 5Y (GR) Kelsey Harrington** - College best: 6K (XC) 19:41.8 - DNP in 2025 - 2022 Cross Country All-America (17th), 2022 & 2021 All-ACC Performer (11th & 14th) 40th in 202h

The women's head coach has tremendous accolades and accomplishments. She was Gardner's and Dalton's cross-country coach in high school where they dominated cross country. I feel confident that she will have these girls ready for tomorrow. That was a great hire by Chris. Here is a write up her accolades for you to read.
Ann Dunn - Cross Country Coach - University of North Carolina Athletics

 

[Jriv23]

Coach Dunn is going to get it done both on the recruiting seen as well as on the cross-country course. Here is a write up on her.
“It is an incredible honor to join the Carolina family and work alongside Coach Miltenberg at a program with such a rich tradition. What excites me most is the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with our student-athletes and help them discover what's possible within themselves,” said Dunn. “Championship teams are built on trust, belief, and a commitment to pursuing excellence together. I'm excited to invest in these young women and develop student-athletes who are not only exceptional competitors, but also curious, confident, and courageous women long after their competitive careers are over.”

Dunn heads to Chapel Hill after serving as the head cross country/track & field coach at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Va. She also is the owner of Formula, a running and strength training fitness studio as well as Formula Track Club.

While in Virginia, Dunn guided athletes to 18 individual state championship titles, 11 All-America honors as well as coaching Covenant girls cross country to state championship titles in 2022 and 2023 and the boys to a state title in 2024.

Dunn boasts stops in the collegiate ranks at Oklahoma, Kentucky and spent time at California as an assistant coach for its distance squads.

An All-America distance runner at Wisconsin, Dunn qualified for multiple NCAA Outdoor Championships with the Badgers as well as participating in multiple NCAA Cross Country Championships. I expect immediately results from Gardner and Dalton. She knows them and they know her.

 

[Jriv23]

The start list as of right now:

BEAULIEU Pia	38	F	North Carolina	[SR]	5k
CASTELLI Libby	39	F	North Carolina	[FR]	5k
DELISI Alli	40	F	North Carolina	[FR]	5k
GARDINER Maddie	41	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
HANSON Grace	42	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k
HIGGINS Maelynn	43	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
O'SHEA Ciara	44	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
RUPE Katelyn	45	F	North Carolina	[FR]	5k
SCOTT Cassidy	46	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k
SHAFFER Hannah Rae	47	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k
ST. JOHN-KLETTER Logan	48	F	North Carolina	[JR]	5k
WENNERSTEN Camryn	49	F	North Carolina	[SR]	5k
WOLFE Kinley	50	F	North Carolina	[SO]	5k

There are some notable absences: our entire freshman class, Dalton and Scrudato. I do not believe this race has a participant limit per team.

Thanks for the wonderful write up. Please read the information about Ann Dunn. This woman knows what the heck she is doing. I expect great recruiting classes to come in. I think she knows that our freshmen women are not ready yet. IMO, I think she will at some point have one or two of them to run moving forward at some point. This is what impresses me about her. She also is the owner of Formula, a running and strength training fitness studio as well as Formula Track Club that is based in Virginia. I am very positive that she is very familiar with VA and the course tomorrow. That fitness studio alone is going to help our runners improve drastically. So, we know that she had inside connections on the top runners in the state of VA as well as in the surrounding states that she will be recruiting. I am sure she had our young women working out at Formula. I am excited to see which young ladies will be leading our team this year. This team is going to be inexperience, but I expect them to get better, gain valuable experience as a team, and build an identity moving forward. Go Heels!

 

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Women’s results: pretty much even with UVA, well ahead of WF:

 

[oldwell]

First place by both the men and women

 

[Jriv23]

First place by both the men and women

Wow, I my assessment about Ann was on point. I do not know if you guys notice this but doesn't Ciera O'Shea's body look well fit, trim, and in great shape. I think all of the women's body's looks like this. Notice the times from last year to this year for alot of them has dropped tremendously in a short amount of time under Ann's leadership and guidance. Her track formula is working already for the women on this team. I did not expect this to happen this quick and soon. She has only been on the job for at least 4 months or least. She was definitely a great hire. Great job Chris for hiring this women. Congrats on your first win for the season as a team. Go Heels!

 

[Jriv23]

Women’s results: pretty much even with UVA, well ahead of WF:

View attachment 1431708

I loved her answer. You can clearly hear the strategy that was planned by her and Ann. I think this program is going to take off to greater heights under Ann's guidance and leadership.

 

[Jriv23]

I just found this that I wanted to post for you to read.

O'Shea Garners USTFCCCA National Athlete-Of-The-Week Honors​

This speaks volumes already and the work that Ann is doing already.

O'Shea Garners USTFCCCA National Athlete-Of-The-Week Honors - University of North Carolina Athletics

Following a successful outing at Panorama Farms for the Virginia Invitational, Ciara O'Shea has been named the women's national athlete of the week by the U....

goheels.com

 

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Women's team moves up slightly to 19th. men's team is unranked in the top 30 .

 

[oldwell]

Women finished 2nd Friday. Alabama was ranked higher and finished 1st

Men finished 5th. I believe there were 4 other ranked teams in the men’s field, so that’s a good finish for the men during their rebuilding year.

 

[Jriv23]

Women finished 2nd Friday. Alabama was ranked higher and finished 1st

Men finished 5th. I believe there were 4 other ranked teams in the men’s field, so that’s a good finish for the men during their rebuilding year.

The HC for the women's team, Ann is making an impact already. This team is young with a lot of players who made little to no contributions last year. I think she will bring in top level talent moving forward because if I was a high schooler, I can clearly see her impact on the program. I think we are fortunate and lucky to have her on staff. She brings a lot to the table. Everyone's times from last year has had a major decrease. You can see it. I think Cade, the freshmen on the men's side who was the Gatorade runner out of Texas is a stud. He looks like he is going to be another Parker Wolfe.

 

[Tar2000heels]

2028 long distance girls class in NC is stacked so hopefully Coach Dunn can bring in some of those ladies.

 

[3397char]

For the women,

This was our first 6k event of the year (the length we run at ACCC and NCAAC).

Here are our women's times versus their previous college personal best:

Women's 6k Results: 2nd Place
10. Jr Ciara O'Shea – 20:05.1 (PB 19:51.0, 2025 NCAA regional)
14. Jr Logan St. John Kletter – 20:15.7 (1PB 19:43.5, 2025 NCAA Championship)
15. Sr Pia Beaulieu – 20:24.1 (has not run XC in past so by default her personal best)
17. Jr Maddie Gardiner – 20:28.9 (PB 19:51.0, 2025 Gans Creek in Missouri)
19. So Reese Dalton – 20:31.1 (has not run 6K XC in past so by default her personal best)
24. So Kinley Wolfe – 20:38.9 (New PB! previous best was 20:52.0 as 2025 NCAA Regionals)
39. So Libby Castelli – 20:50.5 (has not run 6K XC in past so by default her personal best)
42. So Katelyn Rupe – 20:56.0 (has not run 6K XC in past so by default her personal best)
78. So Hannah Rae Shaffer – 21:28.0 (well below her PB of 20:33.6 at 2025 NCAA Regionals)
111. Fr Alli Delisi – 21:48.1 - (Her 1st 6K so by default her personal best)
114. Sr Camryn Wennersten – 21:49.5 (PB 21:46.5, 2024 Furman Invitational)

The conditions in this particular race were not ideal and you do not expect a new PB in every race. But it is not accurate to say that Coach Dunn has come in and dropped everyone's times. Only one new PB at the 6K length.

I personally do not believe there is a coaching magic sauce to dropping distance running time. Yes, good coaching and proper preparation matter to a huge degree, but the differential between what your coach can provide and another coach within your conference can provide is not going to register much. They all know how to teach and how to manage workload. in my rough estimate, it is 60% recruiting great talent, 30% personal development differential (the commitment of the individual athlete) and 10% coaching differential.

 

[Jriv23]

For the women,

This was our first 6k event of the year (the length we run at ACCC and NCAAC).

Here are our women's times versus their previous college personal best:

Women's 6k Results: 2nd Place
10. Jr Ciara O'Shea – 20:05.1 (PB 19:51.0, 2025 NCAA regional)
14. Jr Logan St. John Kletter – 20:15.7 (1PB 19:43.5, 2025 NCAA Championship)
15. Sr Pia Beaulieu – 20:24.1 (has not run XC in past so by default her personal best)
17. Jr Maddie Gardiner – 20:28.9 (PB 19:51.0, 2025 Gans Creek in Missouri)
19. So Reese Dalton – 20:31.1 (has not run 6K XC in past so by default her personal best)
24. So Kinley Wolfe – 20:38.9 (New PB! previous best was 20:52.0 as 2025 NCAA Regionals)
39. So Libby Castelli – 20:50.5 (has not run 6K XC in past so by default her personal best)
42. So Katelyn Rupe – 20:56.0 (has not run 6K XC in past so by default her personal best)
78. So Hannah Rae Shaffer – 21:28.0 (well below her PB of 20:33.6 at 2025 NCAA Regionals)
111. Fr Alli Delisi – 21:48.1 - (Her 1st 6K so by default her personal best)
114. Sr Camryn Wennersten – 21:49.5 (PB 21:46.5, 2024 Furman Invitational)

The conditions in this particular race were not ideal and you do not expect a new PB in every race. But it is not accurate to say that Coach Dunn has come in and dropped everyone's times. Only one new PB at the 6K length.

I personally do not believe there is a coaching magic sauce to dropping distance running time. Yes, good coaching and proper preparation matter to a huge degree, but the differential between what your coach can provide and another coach within your conference can provide is not going to register much. They all know how to teach and how to manage workload. in my rough estimate, it is 60% recruiting great talent, 30% personal development differential (the commitment of the individual athlete) and 10% coaching differential.

I think you miss by point. Two weeks ago, O'Shea shattered her personal best at VA. Secondly, apparently you did not read Anne's bio. Go back and read her bio. In it he clearly states that Ann is the owner of Formula, a running and strength training fitness studio as well as Formula Track Club. Are there any other Cross Country Coaches that have a Formula Track Club or a running and strength training fitness studio. The key words are running and strength training fitness then you add that in to talent and we are seeing the results 3397Char. This is happening in her first two races as being a HC. This is another point. These women's cross country team this year is made up of people that hardly ran last year or those who ran very little last year. No one on this year's team made any major contributions last year. This is my second point.

 

[3397char]

I think you are comparing a 5K race this year to 6K races last year. O’Shea has not set any PB’s in 2026 as of yet.

https://tf.tfrrs.org/athletes/8583938/North_Carolina/Ciara_O'Shea.html

However, a couple of our runners did establish their PB for a 5K distance at the Virginia Invitational. This is to be expected any given year. Runners improve. Runners get healthy

TFRRS | North Carolina Women's Cross Country Results & Statistics

tf.tfrrs.org

i agree this team is young and has no notable returning stars.