Anna Kylish had a historic run at WHS, literally winning various individual state sectional titles and leading the girls XCTF program to gain multiple team sectional wins for the first time in program history. Now, she is currently continuing her cross country and track & field career running at the NCAA Division I level at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA.
Having just wrapped up her first collegiate season, Kylish has been settling into the big adjustment that is college competition with the help of her team. Kylish said, “The transition from high school to college running has gone really well. Having cross country right away made it easier to settle in and make friends since it was something familiar and fun for me.”
Last year, Kylish won the individual NJSIAA Cross Country Sectionals, being the first female in WHS history to place first at the cross country sectional meet. Her immense contributions to the WHS XCTF program have also helped the team achieve some of their biggest and most historic accomplishments. Kylish was a crucial member of the team that won cross country sectionals in 2023, outdoor track sectionals for the first ever time in 2024 and indoor track sectionals for the first ever time in 2025.
Kylish’s role as a captain during the 2025 outdoor season set her up for success as well. Her last high school track season was disappointing and the hardest one she had to endure due to a stress fracture in her foot prior to outdoor sectionals. She persevered, though, and was able to adjust her Bucknell summer training to become fully healed before the collegiate season’s start in July.
Although Kylish has been faced with a higher level of D1 competition, she has already experienced this kind of highly competitive environment, having attended the New Balance Indoor Nationals in the 2025 winter season and years prior. Kylish was the only runner in the Westfield girls track and field program to attend New Balance Indoor Nationals, individually racing in the 800.
Acknowledging the rigor that comes with college athletics, Kylish said, “The competition is definitely tougher. Everyone is really talented, but it’s pushed me to work harder and stay motivated. I am always feeling inspired by girls on my team, which has made me set goals for myself.”
Academically, Bucknell is a competitive liberal arts college, one that will challenge Kylish as academically as it does athletically. Although, the different lifestyles of high school and college has helped her. “The biggest adjustment has been balancing training, classes, and rest while keeping up with everything going on. However, I have more flexibility in my schedule and have been able to find a good balance,” Kylish said.
So far, Kylish has competed in a handful of cross country meets: 5ks, which she has high school experience in, and an increase in distance to 6ks. One of the first meets of her career was the Lehigh Invitational 6k on Aug. 29. Kylish ran 24:12, placing 46th. Followed by the Jasper Fall XC Invitational 6k on Sept. 13, running a personal record of 23:38, placing 74th. Finally, she ran the Youngstown State University 2025 Cross Country Meet 5k on Sept. 27, running 20:10 and placing 30th.
Despite the increase in competition at the collegiate level, Kylish is reminded how much the sport means to her every day. “The Bucknell environment has been awesome. The team and coach are super supportive, and it really feels like a family,” Kylish said. “At Bucknell, I find that I stay motivated best by setting small goals, leaning on my teammates and reminding myself why I love running.”
As Kylish concludes her first collegiate cross country season, she plans to continue gaining new experiences as she gears up for the seasons to come. “My goal for winter track is to keep improving my times and carry the momentum from cross country into the season,” Kylish said.
