Women's Cross Country 12/11/2025 10:40:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Cross Country Signs Three For 2026

DETROIT -- Wayne State University ninth-year head cross country coach Grant Lofdahl has announced the addition of three distance runners, who will enter WSU in the fall of 2026.

Joining the Warriors are freshmen Elsa Gomez (Eaton Rapids, Mich. / Grand Ledge), Bella LaFountain (Rockwood, Mich. / Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central) and Peyton Tucker (Traverse City, Mich. / Traverse City West).

Elsa Gomez, 5-4, Fr., Eaton Rapids, Mich. / Grand Ledge
High School: Will be a 2026 graduate of Grand Ledge High School ... earned three varsity letters in cross country for coach Fred Hutchinson ... helped the Comets to a 2023 regional title ... ran in the MHSAA Regional cross country meet all three years on varsity ... ran the opening leg on the 4x800m relay at the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 state finals meet ... posted a personal-best 800m time of 2:17.18 at the 2025 MHSAA Division 1 state finals, then improved to a 2:17.70 at the 2025 MITCA Champion of Champions Festival ... served as a multi-year track team captain ... received Capital Area Activities Conference (CAAC) Academic All-League recognition three straight years ... garnered Lansing State Journal All-Area honors ... won the 400m dash at the 2025 CAAC Blue Division championship ... selected All-CAAC each of her first three years in track ... competed in the 2025 Junior Olympics in Houston ... runs during the summer for the Core Michigan Track Club ... has a weighted GPA above 4.0.

Personal: Full name -- Elsa Gomez ... born on July 3, 2008, in Detroit ... daughter of Christina Traister and the late Thomas Gomez ... has a younger brother, Traister and two sisters, Ava and Zoe ... plans to major in Statistics.

Coach Lofdahl on Elsa Gomez: "We spotted Elsa at an all-star meet last June, and are ecstatic to bring her into our program. She has an infectious positive attitude, and a great combination of speed and strength. She will be a middle distance runner and will likely focus on the 800, where her potential at the D2 level is very high. With more aerobic development, she is more than capable of excelling at longer distances as well."

Bella LaFountain, 5-8, Fr., Rockwood, Mich. / Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central
High School:  Will be a 2026 graduate of Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central ... was a four-year cross country letterwinner for the Kestrels ... competed at the MHSAA state meet all four years becoming the first female in SMCC history ... placed second at both Huron League Championship and MHSAA Division 3 regional meet as a freshman ... finished second at the HL Championship in 2023, while placing fourth at the regional meet ... was the runner-up at the 2024 HL Championship before finishing third at the regional meet ... took first place at the 2025 HL Championship and was the runner-up at the regional meet ... also competed in basketball and track ... helped the basketball squad to two Huron League titles ... was a three-time All-Huron League selection ... finished in the top three in the 1600m race each of her first three years, including winning the title in 2023 ... participated at the state meet all three years in the 1600m event and the 800m race each of the last two seasons ... was a two-year cross country team captain, and also served as a basketball team captain.

Personal:  Full name -- Isabella M. LaFountain ... born on June 20, 2008, in Monroe, Mich. ... daughter of Donald and Christine LaFountain ... mother ranks third in Madonna women's basketball history with 1,562 points in 114 games from 1996-2000, and was a three-time First Team All-WHAC selection ... has an older sister, Samantha ... plans to major in Physical Therapy.

Coach Lofdahl on Bella LaFountain: "In the recruiting process we look for well-rounded people and well-rounded runners, and Bella fits that description perfectly. She has good athleticism, work ethic, speed, endurance, and the attitude and intelligence to match. Her potential in cross country is certainly high, but as a miler on the track is where she may make a big impact for us immediately."

Peyton Tucker, 5-10, Fr., Traverse City, Mich. / Traverse City West
High School:  Will be a 2026 graduate of Traverse City West High School ... was a four-year cross country letterwinner for the Titans ... helped TCWHS to back-to-back regional titles and four appearances in the MHSAA Division 1 state finals ... set a personal-best (18:58.1) for 5,000m at the 2025 MITCA Michigan Meet of Champions ... earned All-Big North Conference recognition all four years after finishing 12th as a freshman, then 11th the next three seasons ... received All-Region accolades ... garnered Academic All-State honors for cross country ... earned three varsity letters in basketball and will be a four-year track letterwinner ... served as a team co-captain in basketball ... selected to the All-Area Dream Team for the 3200m event as a junior ... finished sixth in the 1600m race at the 2023 MHSAA Division 1 regional meet, and eighth the following year ... placed fourth as a junior for 1600m in a time of 5:26.72 at the regional meet.

Personal:  Full name -- Peyton M. Tucker ... born on February 11, 2008, in Traverse City, Mich. ... daughter of Michael and Lauren Tucker ... has a younger brother, Julian ... plans to major in Biology.

Coach Lofdahl on Peyton Tucker: "Peyton attended our summer track camp, so we had the opportunity to see her train and get to know her a bit more than many recruits. She has the attitude, coachability, and dedication that it takes to compete in the GLIAC and the NCAA D2 level, and certainly has potential in a number of disciplines from the 1500 on the track to 6K on grass. The steeplechase is an event we think may be in her future as well."

The 2025 Wayne State University women's cross country squad placed fourth at the GLIAC Championships and 10th at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship.

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