St. Edward's women's cross country reports to the starting line this week, entering a new season under the guidance of a new head coach—and with the finish line in sight for one of the most accomplished senior classes in program history. Now in its 11th season, the program is poised for a defining chapter.

Leading the way are seniors MIA RIVERA and JULIANA MERLO, roommates who also share the top two 6K times in program history—both set during the 2024 Lone Star Conference Championships. Rivera owns the program's 6K record, and together, the duo holds five program track records with their sights set on more before graduation.

"I'm looking forward to my senior year being my best year of all time," Rivera says. "I trained hard all summer, recovered well, and hope to continue to break records, grow, and motivate the younger women on the team."

Rivera and Merlo aren't shy about their ultimate goal: nationals. It would be a first in Hilltopper history, but their ambition is grounded in a steady commitment to process and preparation.

"I tried to plan ahead and figure out what I needed to do to prepare mentally and physically for where I want to be this season," Merlo explains. "A lot of it is checking in on myself—getting enough sleep, eating the right things, seeing the trainers as much as possible to recover, and working around my school schedule."

Along with fellow seniors MYLA CASTILLO, DELANEY LONG, and JENNA SAUNDERS, Rivera and Merlo form the core of a team already reflecting the values of first-year head coach Chase Rathke.

"We're not going to be outworked," Rathke says. "At the same time, we're going to be smart in the way that we work and attack every single day. When I sat the student-athletes down, the number one thing I said was we're going to be intentional. We're going to have purpose with everything we do. We don't run—or go through life—aimlessly."

The Hilltoppers will open the season with a low-pressure meet at the UT Tyler Open on September 6, giving returners and newcomers alike the chance to find their rhythm.

From there, it's a quick pivot to the Texas A&M Invitational on September 13. Rivera will use the 5K as a chance to chase one of the few records not yet under her name, while Saunders—who set her personal best on the course last season—will look to rebound from an injury that cut short her spring track campaign.

A three-week training block follows before the team returns to one of its favorite mid-season tests: the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival.
"It's a great course," Merlo says. "There aren't too many hills, and it's known for a lot of PRs. And the best part is we get to compete against Division I schools across different levels."

On October 11, St. Edward's will size up Lone Star Conference rivals at the DBU Old Glory Gallop in Fort Worth. Two weeks later, the Hilltoppers return to the same city for the LSC Championships, where they'll aim to surpass the fifth-place finish predicted in the preseason poll.

Beyond that, the road points toward the South Central Regional meet on November 8 in Pueblo, Colorado, and—if all goes as planned—the NCAA Championships on November 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

"We have a lot of seniority—seniors and juniors who are graduating early. There's a lot of leadership already," Rathke says. "I'm excited to see how they build off last year. The women put in a tremendous amount of work this summer. Not just Mia and Juliana, but Delaney, MEGAN FERRELL, VICTORIA HOYT, and others all committed to the grind."

In Coach Rathke's first season, a seasoned senior class is ready to set the tone—for one final campaign, and for the future of Hilltopper cross country.