A strong freshman season in 2024 established Allison Kuzma as a competitor to watch in the NCAA DII women's cross country scene.

On Friday, Kuzma picked up right where she left off, kicking off the 2025 campaign with a dominant victory in the Hillsdale College women's cross country team's home invitational.

Kuzma won the 5K race in 18:20.3, beating the next closest competitor by more that 50 seconds in a statement victory. It's a great way to start the season for Kuzma, who took runner-up honors at the G-MAC Championships as a freshman and who will be looking to reach the top of the podium this fall.

As a team, Hillsdale placed second behind Wayne State, with 49 points. Junior Savannah Fraley was next across the line for the Chargers in eighth place, finishing in 19:53.8, and teammate Eleanor Clark was right behind in ninth place, finishing in 19:54.9 as well.

Freshman Grace Tykocki placed 16th in her first collegiate race, in 20:23.0, and another freshman, Caroline Roberts, took 19th in her first appearance in Charger Blue, finishing in 20:47.9. Freshman Mavis Banks placed 20th in 20:56.2 and junior Anna Roberts took 23rd in 21:03.0 as well for Hillsdale.

The Chargers will be in action again a week from Friday, heading to East Lansing to run against a strong field at the annual MSU Spartan Invitational on Sept. 12.