Thursday, September 3
Mission Club Golf Course / Lompoc CA
6:10 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
UCSB Gaucho Invitational
Photo by: Kellen Steplight/SMC Athletics
WXC | Gaels Finish 3rd in Gaucho Invitational to Open 2026 Season
9/3/2026 8:18:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
LOMPOC, Calif. - The 2026 Saint Mary's Women's Cross Country season got underway at the Gaucho Invitational, with the Gaels finishing 3rd in the six-team field. The Gaels hung with the crowd from start to finish, reaching the 2k split with four runners in the top 20 and finishing with five in the top 30. Freshmen phenoms from a season ago, Courtney Fitzgibbon and Zoe Leach, led the way as the top two finishers for Saint Mary's. Fitzgibbon finished 12th overall with a time of 14:15:8, while Leach finished 15th overall with a time of 14:22:7.
Also showing out for the Gaels were two newcomers to the squad. Senior transfer and Czechia international Julia-Anna Lily Bell finished her Saint Mary's debut in style, coming in third amongst Gael finishers with a time of 14:28:1 and 21st overall. Freshman and Chandler, Arizona native Audrey O'Connor came in fourth amongst the Gaels' contingent with a time of 14:41:9 and 26th overall. Both racers got off to hot starts, with Bell and O'Connor pacing the 2k split just a second within Fitzgibbon and Leach, a promising sign for this Saint Mary's squad that added even more depth. Jane Harig rounded out the top-five finishers for the Gaels with a time of 14:45:2 and 29th overall. Harig's five-spot increase from the 2k split was the fifth-highest of any racer in the top thirty, showing just how much the junior can make up ground.
The Gaels will next be in action on September 18th, as they will host the Saint Mary's Invitational at Newhall Park in Concord, California.
#GaelsRise
Also showing out for the Gaels were two newcomers to the squad. Senior transfer and Czechia international Julia-Anna Lily Bell finished her Saint Mary's debut in style, coming in third amongst Gael finishers with a time of 14:28:1 and 21st overall. Freshman and Chandler, Arizona native Audrey O'Connor came in fourth amongst the Gaels' contingent with a time of 14:41:9 and 26th overall. Both racers got off to hot starts, with Bell and O'Connor pacing the 2k split just a second within Fitzgibbon and Leach, a promising sign for this Saint Mary's squad that added even more depth. Jane Harig rounded out the top-five finishers for the Gaels with a time of 14:45:2 and 29th overall. Harig's five-spot increase from the 2k split was the fifth-highest of any racer in the top thirty, showing just how much the junior can make up ground.
The Gaels will next be in action on September 18th, as they will host the Saint Mary's Invitational at Newhall Park in Concord, California.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Friday, September 04
Friday, September 04
Thursday, September 03
Thursday, September 03
