Tennessee Tech Cross Country Earns Five All-OVC Honors and Women’s Coach of The Year
Tennessee Tech women’s cross country had a banner finish to the 2025 season with the team winning the OVC Championship and Head Coach Peter Dalton taking home Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, as announced by the Conference.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's cross country had a banner finish to the 2025 season with the team winning the OVC Championship and Head Coach Peter Dalton taking home Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, as announced by the Conference.
The women's cross country team finished with 60 points and in first place to take home the program's first-ever OVC Championship in the final year of membership. Tech is set to move to the SoCon in 2026 and has earned its mark as the first and last OVC Champions for the program.
Naomy Lokiles and Makaleigh Jessee took home All-OVC First Team and Jane Lokiles finished with All-OVC Second Team honors for the Golden Eagles. It marks the first All-OVC First-Team honors for Naomy Lokiles and Jessee, as well as the first All-OVC Second-Team honors for Jane Lokiles.
Before the OVC Championships, Joy Jepleting was named OVC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year.
Women's cross country finished 1st in the 6k among 11 other teams. Naomy Lokiles led the team with a personal best time of 21:26.5 and a 6th place finish. Makaleigh Jessee finished 7th with a personal best time of 21:27.9. Jane Lokiles finished 11th with a personal best time of 21:46.8. Joy Jepleting finished 17th with a time of 22:09.45. Rylee Wells finished 19th with a time of 22:10.90. Megan Forstner finished with a personal best time of 22:48.15. Zaely Tilt finished with a personal best time of 23:13.34. Hayley Stegall finished with a personal best time of 23:32.48.
Head Coach Peter Dalton earned Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year with the women's victory, and spoke about his team. "I'm proud of our entire organization. This is the first cross country championship in Tennessee Tech history," said Coach Dalton. "All season long, this group of women remained diligent, not afraid to work, and identified the Conference Championships as the goal. The first championship and forever OVC Champions is a special accomplishment for this group."
The men's team finished 5th, which was two spots better than its 2024 finish (5th). Carter Bradford earned All-OVC First Team, and Zak Myles-Hawkins earned All-OVC Second Team. The men's team came in 5th, led by Carter Bradford's PR (24:22.83), finishing 2nd. Bradford's time was the 6th fastest in program history. Myles-Hawkins finished 10th with a personal best time of 24:40.65.
Full list of All-OVC Honorees below
Men's Awards
All-OVC First Team
Carter Bradford, Tennessee Tech
All-OVC Second Team
Zak Myles-Hawkins, Tennessee Tech
Women's Awards
Coach of the Year: Peter Dalton, Tennessee Tech
Freshman of the Year: Joy Jepleting, Tennessee Tech
All-OVC First Team
Naomy Lokiles, Tennessee Tech
Makaleigh Jessee, Tennessee Tech
All-OVC Second Team
Jane Lokiles, Tennessee Tech
