Fresh Faces Ready to Lead Hawks into New Cross Country Season

Palatine, IL: The Harper women's cross country team enters the 2026 season with a completely new roster and a new group of runners ready to carry on the program's tradition of success.

Freshmen Cecilia Puchalski and Amanda Albrecht are expected to lead the charge for the Hawks this fall. Both enter the collegiate ranks with the potential to develop into All-Americans and will look to make an immediate impact during their first cross country seasons.

Puchalski joins Harper from Schaumburg High School and continues a family connection to the Hawks program. She becomes the third Puchalski sister to compete for Harper, following Tessa and Roza, who recently raced for the Hawks.

Albrecht comes to Harper from Conant High School and adds another talented young runner to the top of the lineup. Together, Albrecht and Puchalski give the Hawks a promising freshman duo as the program begins a new chapter.

Adding depth to the roster is another pair of teammates from Wheeling High School. Carly Bierman and Haydee Cruz will join the Hawks this season and are expected to provide important depth as they adjust to the collegiate level.

Also joining the cross country team is Harper pole vaulter Lucy Reyna. After competing for the Hawks during the spring track and field season, Reyna decided she was willing to give cross country a try. While she enters the season with a different background than many of her teammates, the coaching staff believes Reyna has the potential to surprise people as the season progresses and she gains experience on the course.

The Hawks are led by veteran head coach Jim Macnider, alongside assistant coaches John Majerus and Dianne Barajas. Macnider's experience and the staff's ability to develop young runners will be especially important as Harper works with an entirely new group this season.

The 2026 schedule will provide the Hawks with opportunities to test themselves throughout the fall as the young roster gains experience and builds toward the postseason. View the full Harper women's cross country schedule

With a talented freshman class, strong depth, and a few athletes ready to discover their potential, the Hawks enter 2026 with plenty of new faces and plenty of opportunity. The journey begins with a roster that may be new to Harper cross country, but one that is ready to make its own mark on the program.

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Players Mentioned

Tessa Puchalski: Mid Dist.; Freshman

Roza Puchalski: Freshman

Cecilia Puchalski: Freshman

Amanda Albrecht: Freshman

Carly Bierman: Freshman

Lucy Reyna: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Tessa Puchalski
: Freshman
: Mid Dist.

Roza Puchalski
: Freshman

Cecilia Puchalski
: Freshman

Amanda Albrecht
: Freshman

Carly Bierman
: Freshman

Lucy Reyna
: Sophomore