The College of Wooster women's track and field team will be looking to peak come championship time, utilizing the build up to the conference championships to fine tune skill and talent to best position the program for success.

"We strive to reach our true potential, both individually and as a team at the championships," confirmed veteran head coach Dennis Rice. "That is our theme throughout the season. We focus a lot on the team aspect through the season, especially relays. Those are always a very important tradition here at Wooster."

Throws projects to be Wooster's strongest area in 2026, thanks to standout senior Evie Sanford leading the way. Sanford is a multi-time North Coast Athletic Conference shot put champion, a five-time all-conference performer, and holds school records in three events.

"Our ultimate goal would be to get Evie to the national championships," shared Rice. "Evie has consistently been one of the top throwers in the conference and has showcased the ability to challenge the top throwers at the national level."

Behind Sanford, Wooster has plenty of up-and-coming talent in the throws who will provide a big boost upon the conclusion of winter sports. Junior Kylie Parsons will rejoin the team after basketball season and has developed into a thrower capable of challenging for a scoring spot at the conference level. Sophomore Elizabeth Theobald, currently one of Wooster's lead butterfly and individual medley swimmers, placed 10th in the javelin as a first-year and is on the cusp of being able to reach 100 feet.

"If we can build off the progression Kylie and Elizabeth made last year, they should make a strong impact at the conference level and have great success," shared Rice.

Junior Claire Davis, junior Ellie Fox, and senior Sarah Hiestand lead Wooster's jumpers. Davis and Fox's contributions extend to relays. Davis is coming off a collegiate-best 34 feet, 2.25 inches in the triple jump, which saw her place fifth at conference and crack the program's top-10 list for the event last spring. Fox scored in the triple jump at last year's indoor meet, while Hiestand provides a steady scoring presence in the pole vault at conference.

"Claire, Ellie, and Sarah have done an excellent job during their careers," said Rice. "They bring a lot of experience to our jumps. We are excited to see how they continue to challenge the top jumpers within the conference."

Senior Anaya Brady, sophomore Emeili Tarpy, junior Cheyenne Wentz, and sophomore Gracyn Zerby add depth to the Fighting Scots' jumps.

Senior Izzy Cozzie enters the season as the top sprinter among Wooster's returnees. She has been a relay staple since stepping on campus and earned All-Ohio honors as part of Wooster's 4x400 relay during her career.

"Izzy has done an amazing job for us," shared Rice. "She always excels at the NCAC Championships. Izzy brings great confidence to our training sessions and relays. Her great work ethic carries over to the team concept and we are looking for a big senior year from her."

As previewed in the jumps, Davis and Fox project to enhance the sprints and relays, and Tarpy gained valuable experience in the sprints as a key relay leg at last year's championship meets. Among the returnees, sophomores Breena Katz and Hannah Zhao are key sprinters for the Scots this season.

Wooster enters 2026 with a reinfusion of talent to the middle distance events. Junior Reeve Helvoigt returns after spending the spring 2025 semester abroad and all-conference women's lacrosse senior Sophia Mellis will run some middle distance events this season. The rapid development of senior Amy Gabrovsek, sophomore Eilidh Horn, and junior Elise Wheeler, who were among the Scots' top cross country performers this fall, brings plenty of enthusiasm and optimism to the events.

"We are very excited about our development and progression during the fall season," summed up Rice. "We are looking to build off that with our middle distance runners. We have a nice core group of middle distance runners who work together to do great things."

Junior Zanna Anderson, junior Celeste Probart, and Wentz add depth to the middle distance group.

With several of Wooster's top distance runners abroad, the Scots will look to reinforce the distance events come the outdoor season. Sophomore Savannah Cox, who competed in the 5,000 meters at the outdoor NCAC Championships, will rejoin the team upon the conclusion of the swimming and diving season. First-year Lauren Acker, who was Wooster's No. 1 cross country runner all fall, will look to strengthen the distance events at the conference meet. Senior Sylvia Direnzo will look to add depth to the distance events following her debut cross country season.

Wooster's newcomers are a mix of first-years and non-first-years joining the program for the first time. Rice is "excited about the additions who are going to strengthen our program who come from other sports."

Wooster opens the season with back-to-back home meets on Jan. 17 and 24. The Scots are the host of this year's indoor NCAC Multi-Events Championships, which take place Feb. 21-22, and the program's annual outdoor Wooster Invitational is set for April 3-4.

"We take a lot of pride in putting on our home meets," wrapped up Rice. "We are looking forward to the championships meets, whether those are All-Ohio, the NCAC, or the NCAA Div. III Championships."