Pucilowski Named Freshman of the Year, Three Dukes Earn All-Sun Belt Honors

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Following the 2026 Sun Belt Cross Country Championship, Anna Pucilowski earned Freshman of the Year, and she, Sidney Walters, and Mullane Baumiller all received all-conference nods, the league announced Monday.

Pucilowski was the top freshman at the championship meet, pacing the Dukes with a personal-best 5K time of 17:37.2 for sixth to help JMU place third overall as a team. Additionally, her top-seven finish secured her First Team All-Sun Belt honors, making her the first Duke to garner first team status since Katherine Lawson in 2024.

Lastly, this is the second year in a row in which the program has earned a specialty award, with Taylor Myers winning Newcomer of the Year laurels in 2025.

Walters jumped six spots over the final kilometer for her Second Team All-Sun Belt finish for the second consecutive season, placing eighth in 17:42.3 after rounding out the top 10 last season.

Newcomer Mullane Baumiller PR'd by over a minute in the 5K race on her way to 15th in 17:56.3 for Third Team All-Sun Belt honors. With her performance, the Dukes placed three in the top 15 for the first time since 2022.

Up next, JMU will have a tune-up at Virginia Tech's Hokie Open on Friday, Nov. 6. The women's 4K is slated to begin at 4:45 p.m. at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course.

2026 Women's Freshman of the Year: Anna Pucilowski, James Madison
2026 Women's Newcomer of the Year: Rachael Withrow, Marshall
2026 Women's Runner of the Year: Rachael Withrow, Marshall
2026 Women's Elite Award Winner: Ella Segura, Louisiana
2026 Women's Coach of the Year: Tommy Badon, Louisiana

2026 Women's First Team All-Sun Belt
Rachael Withrow, Marshall
Aiden Harrand, Southern Miss
Isabelle Russell, Louisiana
Charleen Elizondo, South Alabama
Ella Segura, Louisiana
Anna Pucilowski, James Madison
Angelle Dupuis, Louisiana

2026 Women's Second Team All-Sun Belt
Sidney Walters, James Madison
Josze Jackson, App State
Tessa Massa, App State
Corinne Croy, Southern Miss
Brooker Berger, Louisiana
Maya Nobes, ULM
Addison Rainey, Southern Miss

2026 Women's Third Team All-Sun Belt
Mullane Baumiller, James Madison
Tuva Sandberg, ULM
Destinee Frink, Georgia State
Erika Krueger, Arkansas State
Chloe Crowell, Louisiana
Anna Balbekova, Arkansas State
Bre Budzinski, App State

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Mullane Baumiller

Taylor Myers

Anna Pucilowski

Sidney Walters

JMU Footer

Scoreboard

Calendar

Completed Event: Cross Country at Spider Alumni Open on September 5, 2026 , , 4th of 16

Completed Event: Cross Country versus JMU Invitational on September 25, 2026 , , 1st of 4

Completed Event: Cross Country at Fire Tower Project on October 2, 2026 , , 4th of 14

Completed Event: Cross Country versus ECAC Championship on October 17, 2026 , , 13th of 26

Completed Event: Cross Country versus Sun Belt Conference Championship on October 30, 2026 , , 3rd of 13

Upcoming Event: Cross Country at Hokie Open on November 6, 2026 at 4:45 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Cross Country versus NCAA Southeast Regional on November 13, 2026 at 10 a.m.

Upcoming Event: Cross Country versus NCAA Championships on November 21, 2026 at TBA

James Madison University | Official Athletics Site

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