Pucilowski Named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year

James Madison's Anna Pucilowski earned the 2026 Sun Belt women's cross country freshman honor as the Dukes placed third as a team.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Running

Pucilowski Named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year

Anna Pucilowski was named the 2026 Sun Belt Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year after finishing sixth at the conference championship in a personal-best 5K time of 17:37.2. James Madison placed third overall as a team, and Sidney Walters and Mullane Baumiller also earned All-Sun Belt honors.

Why it matters

Pucilowski is the first JMU runner to earn First Team All-Sun Belt status since Katherine Lawson in 2024, and JMU placed three runners in the top 15 for the first time since 2022. The results mark a strong showing for the Harrisonburg program's young runners.

Pucilowski's 17:37.2 personal best ranked sixth at the 2026 Sun Belt Championship, while Walters finished eighth in 17:42.3 and Baumiller 15th in 17:56.3. JMU's third-place team finish was its highest placing on the stub's reported results, and the source does not detail the full field or scoring breakdown.

The players

Anna Pucilowski

A James Madison freshman distance runner who earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors and conference Freshman of the Year recognition in her first season with the Dukes.

Sidney Walters

A James Madison distance runner who earned Second Team All-Sun Belt honors for the second consecutive season after placing eighth at the conference championship.

Mullane Baumiller

A James Madison distance runner who earned Third Team All-Sun Belt honors after posting a personal-best 5K time at the conference championship.

The details

Walters jumped six spots over the final kilometer to finish eighth, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt honors for the second straight season. Baumiller set a personal best by more than a minute in the 5K on her way to Third Team All-Sun Belt honors.

Pucilowski's honors were announced Monday, following the 2026 Sun Belt Cross Country Championship.
JMU's next competition is a tune-up at Virginia Tech's Hokie Open on Friday, Nov. 6, with the women's 4K starting at 4:45 p.m.

Season Trajectory

Pucilowski becomes the first JMU runner to earn First Team All-Sun Belt status since Katherine Lawson in 2024, extending the program's recent conference recognition. JMU's third-place team finish and three top-15 runners mark its strongest conference showing since 2022, signaling a developing distance program.

Pucilowski's All-Sun Belt honors and the Dukes' top-15 placings position the team's distance runners as a potential factor in the conference picture heading into the spring. Fans following James Madison's fantasy-style athlete rankings or regional meet previews can track these named runners in upcoming results.

The takeaway

Strong freshman performances like Pucilowski's suggest the Dukes' distance group is building depth for future conference seasons. Tracking how the team handles its upcoming tune-up will show whether this momentum carries forward.

What happens next

JMU competes in a tune-up at Virginia Tech's Hokie Open on Friday, Nov. 6, with the women's 4K starting at 4:45 p.m. at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course.