CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's and women's cross country teams have announced the incoming student-athletes for the 2025 season. There are nine total incoming student-athletes, five for the men and four for the women. These individuals are Zavier Medina, Lex McMahon, Hayden Coughanour, Caden LaRue, Eddie Devaney, Olivia Szmania, Hannah Swanson, Savannah Headley and Paige Slupski.
 
Medina is a graduate of local North Canton Hoover High School and was the 2025 Federal League Champion in the 1600 and 3200. He qualified for the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state championships in both of those events as well as cross country in 2025 and was a two-time state qualifier in cross country. His personal records are 15:07 in the 5k, 9:14 in the 3200 and 4:15 in the 1600.
 
McMahon is also a local product from Lake High School. He was a regional qualifier in the 3200 during the 2025 outdoor track & field season. His personal records are 16:07 in the 5k, 9:45 in the 3200 and 4:29 in the 1600.
 
Coughanour comes to Malone from Olmstead Falls High School. He was able to reach the OHSAA Division I State Championship meet in the 4x400-meter relay in 2025. His personal records include a time of 51.7 seconds in the 400, 1:57.1 in the 800 and 17:02 in the 5k.
 
LaRue is a transfer student from Shawnee State University and competed at Unioto High School. As a freshman, he placed 24th at the River State Conference Cross County Championship. While in high school, LaRue was a three-time Division II state qualifier in cross country and was a state qualifier in outdoor track in 2024. His personal records are 26:37 in the 8k, 16:03 in the 5k and 4:23 in the 1600.
 
Devaney is an intra-conference transfer from Ohio Dominican University, so he will not compete during the 2025 season for the Pioneers. He competed for three seasons with the Panthers and accumulated best collegiate times of 28:57 in the 8k and 4:30 in the 1500.
 
Szmania is a graduate of Black River High School. In total, she qualified for five regional events in OHSAA Division III in cross country and outdoor track & field. Szmania was the Lorain County League (LC-8) champion in cross country and the 1600 and 3200 during her senior year. Her personal best times are 20:13 in the 5k, 12:02 in the 3200 and 5:36 in the 1600.
 
Swanson attended Barberton High School prior to her arrival at Malone and was a two-time OHSAA Division I state qualifier in cross country and in the 800 for outdoor track & field. Her personal records include 20:46 in the 5k, 5:31 in the 1600 and 2:25 in the 800.
 
Headley is from Three Rivers High School in the state of Michigan. She began her running career as a sprinter, but transitioned into distance events in 2023-24. Headley was a regional qualifier during the 2024 cross country season and her personal records are 21:53 in the 5k, 2:39 in the 800 and 27.57 seconds in the 200.
 
Slupski attended Iroquois High School in Erie, Pennsylvania and was a three-sport athlete in high school with cross country, basketball and track & field. Her personal best times are 23:26 in the 5k and 6:15 in the 1600. Slupski will also compete for the Pioneers on the JV women's basketball team.