BOCA RATON, Fla. – With increased continuity and growing depth across events, the Lynn University women's track and field team enters the 2026 outdoor season with confidence, belief and a clear message from Head Coach Junior Cadet:
 
Trust the Process.
 
"If you trust the process," Cadet said, "the results will show for themselves."
 
While still young, the Lynn women return a stronger core than a season ago and continue to trend upward across multiple event groups. Cadet sees maturity beginning to match talent: a combination he believes could unlock the team's full potential.
 
"They're a little more grown than they were last year, but they're still young," Cadet said. "They're continuing to trend upward."
 
The sprint group remains a foundational strength, led by returners Mira Akan, Zoey Bishop, Davyn Dreibelbis, Angelina Howard, and others, while a group of freshmen adds depth and internal competition. But Cadet is particularly eager to see growth in the women's mid-distance events, an area he believes could be the difference-maker when the championship season arrives.
 
"My mid-distance group is what excites me the most," Cadet said. "Last year, we didn't really get to run the way we wanted. This year, with a new style of training, I think it's going to be a much better setup for what we're trying to accomplish."
 
That training structure is intentional, as Cadet works to balance development early in the season with peak performances later in the spring.
 
"We'll open up with some athletes in the 800 and others in the 1,500 to balance it out," he said. "Then we'll transition into everybody running multiple events. It's all part of the plan."
 
Despite the talent on the roster, Cadet has emphasized that success will ultimately come down to mindset.
 
"The talent is there," he said. "The biggest thing is who's willing to push past the pain. Pain is part of this sport. Once the gun goes off, you don't get a second to take a breather."
 
Returners such as Akan and Jessica Lombardo have already helped elevate expectations within the program. Lombardo, coming off a strong cross country season, is expected to help lead the mid-distance group, while Akan continues to develop into a versatile threat across sprints and hurdles.
 
"With the presence of those two, they came in and took care of business," Cadet said. "They didn't look back. Now the rest of the group understands what it takes."
 
For Cadet, the benchmark has never changed.
 
"For me, the expectation is always to be ranked top 10 in the nation," he said. "That only happens if we have enough athletes in every event and everyone buys in."
 
That buy-in extends beyond race day. Cadet believes belief, accountability and trust are what separate teams that grow from teams that peak.
 
"Track is 80 percent mental," he said. "If you're not locked in mentally and you don't believe in what we're doing, it's hard to succeed."
 
As the Fighting Knights prepare to open the season, Cadet's message to his women is clear.
 
"This team is young," he said. "But if they trust the process, the outcome will be exactly what we planned."
 
The Lynn women open the 2026 outdoor season Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Tampa Spartans Open in Tampa, Fla.