By Olivia Gehm
LAKELAND, Fla. –– The University of Tampa’s women’s cross-country team competed in the Swan City Classic on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at 7:50 a.m. Five runners from the Spartans placed in the top 15, accumulating 34 points for the team and helping UTampa secure a strong finish on the course. Florida Southern University trailed behind with 55 points, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which had the first-place runner in junior Taylor Roth, finished with a score of 67.
Runners ready themselves at the start line.
The four-kilometer race kicked off UTampa’s season and served as an opportunity for new and returning runners to get a feel for what the next several months will look like. The Spartans rested their top seven athletes for the Swan City Classic to keep them fresher for races later in the season. The course, which wound its way through Holloway Park, featured varied terrain and elevation changes unusual for Florida.
When asked to describe the course, UTampa junior Alaina Williams said, “Tough. It takes a lot out of you.”
Two UTampa runners trek up a short, steep hill.
Williams placed second overall, scoring two points with a time of 14:16.9. She said that the race went better than she expected.
“I didn’t really come out with expectations, but it felt good,” said Williams “I love all the girls. We have so much fun together, so it’s just – I’m happy to be here.”
Senior Kendra Krueger shared Williams’ sentiments about the course and team dynamic.
“We’ll be racing conference here, and I feel like our team had such good energy today,” said Krueger. “I feel like we’re in good shape, and for that, and I feel like this course helped that, too.”
Freshman Abby Tudeen also had a productive race, placing sixth in her first-ever collegiate cross-country meet with a time of 14:29.4, scoring six points for the Spartans. Head Coach Logan Wells said that he was impressed with Tudeen’s ambitious racing strategy, as she led the race at the halfway point.
“To put herself out there up front in her first collegiate race takes a lot of guts, which I was really happy with,” said Wells.
Tudeen said her decision to attack the course was mainly due to her teammate, sophomore Kara Bergeron, separating from other runners.
Kara Bergeron leads early in the race.
“I saw Kara go, and I was like, well, I guess I’ll just go with her,” said Tudeen.
Bergeron herself placed seventh, a mere nine seconds behind Tudeen, and scored seven of the team’s 34 points. She also said that while she didn’t have many expectations, she was happy with her performance, and the race felt good.
The remainder of the Spartans’ points were scored by Krueger and junior Molly DeMarzo, finishing in 14:39.4 and 14:51.5, respectively.
Overall, the team had a successful first meet, taking the top spot and setting the tone for the 2025 season. Coach Wells said that he was pleased with the team’s first-place finish without their top seven runners.
“I think it gives these ladies a lot of confidence, and it gives the ladies who didn’t run today a lot of confidence because they’re doing the same training,” said Wells. “And so when they see their teammates run well, they know they can run well. So it’s a great start to the season to give us some momentum.”
Wells said the team – the largest in school history – has a great energy and work ethic and is making a “concerted effort not to focus on outcomes this season, but more on the process of reaching [their] full potential.”
The Spartans will compete in their next meet at the Hoka Nights of Thunder in Tallahassee on Friday, Sept. 12.
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Cover Image: UTampa runners get out fast at the Swan City Classic on Saturday, September 6.
Photos courtesy of Olivia Gehm.