The New York University women's cross country team lived up to its number four ranking in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Poll to open the 2025 season.

The Violets sent squads to two different meets on Friday, August 29 - the USC Upstate Eye Opener and the Vassar Season Starter.

NYU's group at the Eye Opener 5k in Spartanburg, SC, took third place out of 10 teams, falling short of only a pair of Division I programs. The Violets' group at Vassar's season opener in Poughkeepsie, NY, finished atop a field of six teams.

Josephine Dziedzic led the charge for NYU in Spartenburg, placing 10th overall and highest among the Violets, with an 18:08.7 time to start the season.

Ashlyn Pallotta finished two places behind in 12th overall, clocking in at 18:18.6. Stella Kuttner logged an 18:36.1 time to start the year, placing 18th in the race.

Senior Lucy Gott placed 20th overall, finishing in 18:42.2. Her fellow senior Daniela Sekhar was one place back, turning in an 18:55.3 time to round out the scoring places.

Emily Castles (19:06.8), Olivia Jackson (19:23.6) and Olivia Ebenstein (20:35.8) finished out the Violets' roster in the Palmetto State.

Ten Violet runners headed upstate to Poughkeepsie for the 3k Season Opener at Vassar. Eliza Dickie placed second overall and led the scoreboard-topping Violets with an 11:02.3 finish in her first collegiate race.

Katharine Frank rounded out the podium places in third, just under three seconds behind Dickie with an 11:05.1 time.

Elena Gehrke (11:07.3) and Lindsay Guthrie (11:07.7) were the final two Violets in the top 10. Sabrina Roach (11:19.5) was the final scoring Violet in 12th overall. Sophie Liu (11:20.1) and Gianna Dawson (11:21.9) rounded out the top 15.

The Violets return to action in just over two weeks' time for the Jasper Fall XC Invitational, hosted by Manhattan University, in Montgomery, NY, on Saturday, Sept. 13.