Walters, Myers Named All-Conference

NEW ORLEANS – Sidney Walters and Taylor Myers of James Madison cross country both earned All-Sun Belt honors, with Myers being named the 2025 Newcomer of the Year, as announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon.

Walters finished 10th at the Sun Belt Cross Country Championship with a 5K time of 17:39.7 to garner Second Team All-Sun Belt status. Taylor Myers followed closely behind Walters with a massive PR of 17:53.0 for 19th to land to be named Third Team All-Sun Belt and Newcomer of the Year.

The Bridgewater College transfer is the second Duke to earn the Newcomer of the Year Award since the team has competed in the Sun Belt, with Katherine Lawson picking up the honor in 2023.

Seven of the eight JMU runners recorded personal bests at the conference title race, as the Dukes placed sixth out of 13 teams, tallying 141 points (10-19-27-38-47).

Up next, the Dukes will have a tune-up at Virginia Tech's Hokie Open at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course on Friday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m.

2025 Sun Belt Cross Country Awards

2025 Women's Coach of the Year: Annie Richards, App State
2025 Women's Newcomer of the Year: Taylor Myers, James Madison
2025 Women's Elite Award Winner: Ella Segura, Louisiana
2025 Women's Runner of the Year: Abigail Parra, Texas State
2025 Women's Freshman of the Year: Tessa Massa, App State

2025 Women's First Team All-Conference
Abigail Parra, Texas State
Alexia Macias, Texas State
Charleen Elizondo, South Alabama
Isabelle Russell, Louisiana
Ella Segura, Louisiana
Emme Bates, Southern Miss
Hannah Wyler, Marshall

2025 Women's Second Team All-Conference
Addison Laughlin, Coastal Carolina
Erika Krueger, Arkansas State
Sidney Walters, James Madison
Tessa Massa, App State
Cadence Lapp, Southern Miss
Nyomi Garcia, Texas State
Josie Jackson, App State

2025 Women's Third Team All-Conference
Savannah Moore, App State
Chloe Crowell, Louisiana
Bre Budzinski, App State
Mary Beth Bailey, Arkansas State
Taylor Myers, James Madison
Elizabeth McCart, App State
Lexi Cooper, Southern Miss

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Katherine Lawson

Taylor Myers

Sidney Walters

JMU Footer

Scoreboard

Calendar

Completed Event: Cross Country at Spider Alumni Open on August 30, 2025 , , 5th of 14

Completed Event: Cross Country versus JMU Invitational on September 26, 2025 , , 1st of 7

Completed Event: Cross Country at Firetower Project Run on October 3, 2025 , , 6th of 12

Completed Event: Cross Country at Panorama Farms Invitational on October 17, 2025 , , 11th of 16

Upcoming Event: Cross Country at Hokie Open on November 7, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Cross Country at NCAA Southeast Regional on November 14, 2025 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Cross Country at NCAA Championships on November 22, 2025 at TBA

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