Sunday, August 30, 2026

HOKA Night XC Showcase Recap - August 29, 2026

GENEVA, Ohio - Saint Joseph Academy opened the 2026 cross country season with two top-three team finishes Saturday night at the HOKA Night XC Showcase. Racing on the new cross country course at Spire Academy, the varsity Jaguars placed 2nd among 37 teams in the black division, while the JV team finished 3rd among 17 teams in the open division.

Maddie Koons ‘29 led the varsity lineup with a 4th place finish, and Elizabeth Siefker ‘28 followed in 6th. Their two top 10 performances gave the Jaguars a strong presence near the front of the field and established the foundation for the runner-up team result.

Pack running strengthened the varsity effort behind the leaders. Sylvia Langer ‘29 and Grace Litten ‘29 stayed close to the front group, with both runners beginning the season by recording personal-best performances. Annie Collins ‘30 and Bea Kratt ‘30 also delivered notable races, holding their own against the varsity field in the season-opening showcase.

The Jaguars carried that depth into the open race, where Anna Heuberger ‘28 and Olivia Palleschi ‘28 led the team to 3rd place finish out of 17 teams. Their performances helped Saint Joseph Academy secure another high team finish.

The meet also marked important first steps for two runners. Inez Somarriba ‘30 and Teagan Frey ‘29 completed their first cross country meets and contributed notable performances in the open race. Their debuts added to an opening night that featured front-running results, personal records and strong team depth across both divisions.

The Jaguars next travel to the Avon Lake Early Bird Meet, hosted at Lorain County Community College on Saturday, Sept. 5. The varsity Jaguars will race at 9:00am in the maroon division followed by the JV/Open Jaguars racing at 10:30am in the open race. The meet will give Saint Joseph Academy another chance to build on its pack running and two podium team finishes from the season opener.


The Varisty Jaguars before the black divsion race

The JV Jaguars before the open race



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