Shippensburg University head cross country coach Steve Spence has announced eight student-athletes who will join the Raiders’ women’s cross country and track & field programs for the 2026-27 season.
The recruiting class includes seven first-year students and one transfer. Seven of the eight recruits are from Pennsylvania, while one is from Virginia. Two Pennsylvania recruits attended high schools outside the state.
Lexi Boyd, Lurgan, Pa./Chambersburg Area (Saint Joseph’s)
Boyd transfers to Shippensburg after competing at Saint Joseph’s. She competed in four cross country meets as a sophomore in 2025 and three meets as a freshman in 2024. Her collegiate cross country personal records are 19:42.8 in the 5K and 23:06.9 in the 6K.
At Chambersburg Area Senior High School, Boyd earned eight varsity letters in cross country and track & field. She was a three-time PIAA Class AAA State Cross Country Championships qualifier and a two-time state track & field qualifier. She served as team captain during her junior and senior seasons. Her high school personal records included 5:19 in the 1,600 meters, 11:09 in the 3,200 meters and 19:41 in the cross country 5K.
Alli Cassel, West Grove, Pa./Wilmington Christian (Del.)
Cassel earned four varsity letters in cross country and track & field at Wilmington Christian High School. She qualified for the Delaware state championships in both sports during her junior and senior seasons and placed eighth at the state cross country championships as a senior.
Cassel recorded personal records of 5:27 in the 1,600 meters, 11:26 in the 3,200 meters and 19:19 in the cross country 5K.
Sarah Grace, York, Pa./York Suburban
Grace competed in cross country and track & field at York Suburban High School. She earned York County medals in cross country as a junior and senior and was part of a PIAA District III Class AA cross country team championship as a sophomore.
Her high school personal records were 5:39 in the 1,600 meters, 12:02 in the 3,200 meters and 20:36 in the cross country 5K. Grace graduated with distinguished honors and was a member of the German Honors Society.
Olivia Walley, Lemoyne, Pa./Cedar Cliff
Walley earned four varsity letters in track & field and 11 varsity letters overall in track & field, soccer and basketball at Cedar Cliff High School.
As a senior, she placed fourth in the 800 meters at the District III Class AAA Track & Field Championships and second in the event at the Mid-Penn Conference Championships. Walley set Cedar Cliff’s 800-meter school record as a sophomore and lowered it during her career.
Her personal records included 2:14 in the 800 meters, 5:26 in the 1,600 meters and 20:29 in the cross country 5K.
Hayden Wamsher, Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest
Wamsher earned multiple varsity letters in track & field at Cedar Crest High School and was part of a District III Class AAA championship 4×800-meter relay team. She earned six varsity letters overall in track & field, soccer and basketball.
Wamsher was a member of the National Honor Society, received a Scholar Athlete award and was a four-year member of the Principal’s List. Her personal records included 2:21 in the 800 meters and 19:20 in the cross country 5K.
Makenzie Wamsher, Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest
Makenzie Wamsher also competed at Cedar Crest, earning multiple varsity letters in track & field and six varsity letters overall in track & field, soccer and basketball.
She placed eighth in the 1,600 meters at the PIAA Class AAA State Track & Field Championships as a senior and also earned a district medal. Her personal records included 2:18 in the 800 meters, 4:55 in the 1,600 meters and 18:17 in the cross country 5K.
Makenzie and Hayden Wamsher are twin sisters.
Sammie Wiest, West Lawn, Pa./Lake Braddock Secondary School (Va.)
Wiest earned 11 varsity letters in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field while attending Lake Braddock Secondary School in Virginia and William J. Brennan High School in Texas.
She was a four-time district and regional championships qualifier in cross country and a four-time district championships qualifier in track & field. Wiest set the meet record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase at the University of Delaware High School Invitational and ranks among Lake Braddock’s all-time top 10 in the event.
Her personal records included 5:25 in the 1,600 meters, 11:43 in the 3,200 meters and 19:50 in the cross country 5K.
Kendall Williams, Springfield, Va./South County
Williams earned eight varsity letters in cross country and track & field at South County High School. She earned Virginia All-State honors as a sophomore and junior, was a four-time All-Region and four-time All-District performer and twice earned All-America honors as part of relay teams.
Williams broke South County’s 1,000-meter school record three times and contributed to three state championship teams. Her personal records included 2:16 in the 800 meters, 5:15 in the 1,600 meters and 18:47 in the cross country 5K.
