NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's cross country team took another big step forward last season, finishing second at the Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country Championships. That was the Bulldogs' best finish at Heps since 2016, and continued a steady progression that has seen them improve from sixth in 2023 to third in 2024 and second in 2025. They will look to bring that momentum into the 2026 season, which starts Friday at Providence's Friar Invitational.
Four of Yale's top seven runners from last year's NCAA Northeast Regional meet return this year, setting the Bulldogs up for success. This is Yale's third season with
Courtney Jaworski as the team's Mark T. Young '68 Director of Cross Country and Track and Field.
Laura Broderick returns for her third season as an assistant coach.
Here is a look at the Bulldogs heading into the season:
Seniors (4)
Chadwick was among Yale's top three finishers in four of five races she ran last season, including NCAA Regionals. Her best finish on the team was second at the Paul Short Run, and her best time was her 20:35.1 PR at Regionals.
Henderson, Yale's captain, finished among Yale's top seven in all five races she ran last season. That included finishing in Yale's top three at the Paul Short Run.
Gangadharan gained experience in a pair of races in 2024, and Villatoro competed at the 2024 ECAC Championships.
Juniors (7)
Sanok Dufallo returns after placing among Yale's top seven at both Heps and NCAA Regionals last season. She has eight career races.
Martonfi finished among Yale's top seven in three of the four races she ran last season. She had a breakthrough season on the track, earning a spot in the NCAA East First Round in the 3K steeplechase.
Jin was Yale's top finisher (and first overall) at the Fordham Fiasco last season, then went on to compete in three more races – including Heps. Lovshin has three career races under her belt. Heijnen (two races) and Piot (one race) gained experience in 2024.
Sophomores (4)
Benun distinguished herself as one of the best rookies in the Ivy League last year, placing second among first-years at Heps (third on the team and 16th overall). She ended the cross country season on a high note, with her best finish on the team (second) coming at NCAA Regionals. Her time of 20:34.8 at Regionals was a PR.
Carter made her Yale debut at the Iona Meet of Champions last year. Polay has a personal best of 17:32.90 for a 5K cross country race. Svihalkova has excelled in track and field, competing in the Czech U20 Championships and the England Open U20 Championships in the 800m.
First-Years (4)
Douglas brings a 5K cross country PR of 18:01.50, and she competed at NXN in 2024. Frawley was a Massachusetts state champion in the 1000m indoors her senior year. Ostfeld was the NYSAIS Champion in cross country in 2025. Prusak has a 5K cross country PR of 17:50.30, and placed in the top three at the Ohio State D2 Cross Country Championships in each of the past two seasons.
