The UConn cross country team will commence its 2026 fall campaign this Saturday at the University of Hartford Invitational in West Hartford, Conn.
The race is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at Keney Park and will feature a strong field of competitors.
The Huskies are entering this season looking to make a statement with a blend of promising newcomers and experienced veterans. UConn is welcoming seven freshmen to the roster this season. The team is also welcoming back sophomores Sascha Letica, Brooke Strauss and Samantha Moore.
In 2025, Letica finished fifth place at the Ted Owen Invite with a time of 17:18.3 for the women’s 5K and set a personal best time of 20:25.8 for the women’s 6K. She also led the way for UConn at the 2025 Big East Championship, with a 13th place finish.
Strauss posted another standout performance in the Big East Championship, taking a 19th–place finish with a time of 20:58.2. At the Ted Owen Invite, she finished second place in the 5K with a time of 17:12.4.
In last year’s Hartford Invitational, Moore made her mark as she snagged a seventh-place finish in the women’s 3K with a time of 11:06.7. Additionally, at the Ted Owen Invite, she claimed 15th place with a time of 17:58.4.
Strauss, Letica and Moore will be among the Huskies to watch during Saturday’s season opener and throughout the season.
UConn’s freshman class also brings excitement and potential. Sisters Hayley and Kaitlynn Martin will look to contribute immediately after posting impressive results prior to committing to UConn.
While the potential this season is certainly promising, the Huskies said goodbye this past year to a veteran athlete and team leader in Chloe Trudel. In 2025, Trudel set a personal-best time of 20:22.8 at the Princeton Fall Classic, which allowed her to finish 11th overall. Her departure leaves an opportunity for new leaders to emerge and help lead the Huskies.
Senior Malin Rahm has proven to be a catalyst for her squad, as she set a personal-best time in the women’s 5K last season at the Ted Owen Invite with a time of 17:14.0. This gave her a third-place finish. In the Princeton Fall Classic, she finished 30th with a time of 20:50.1. Entering her final collegiate season, Rahm will surely look to provide both leadership and strong performances.
Junior Claire Paci is also an athlete to keep an eye on this weekend as she finished in second place at last year’s Hartford Invitational in the women’s 3K with a time of 10:47.4.
The Huskies will have some tough competition this weekend, including athletes from the University of Hartford. Among these competitors is Hartford senior athlete Annie Gilman. Gilman placed 108th at the NCAA Mideast Regional with a time of 25:36.2 and will be one of several competitors looking to challenge the Huskies this weekend.
Keep an eye on these athletes at Saturday’s Hartford Invitational, as they are poised to deliver standout performances and impressive finishing times.