Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Rachel Hurley enters her second season as an assistant coach with the WPI cross country and track & field programs in 2026-27.

A member of the Engineers’ women’s cross country and track & field teams since 2023 while pursuing her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Hurley has played a key role during one of the most successful stretches in program history. She was a scoring member of WPI’s first women’s cross country team to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships and earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in cross country in 2023 and the indoor 5,000 meters in 2024.

Prior to arriving at WPI, Hurley competed at NCAA Division I Lafayette College, where she graduated as co-valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA. She was a Patriot League scorer in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, earned Freshman Cross Country MVP honors, and ranks among the program’s all-time top 10 in both the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meters.

Away from competition, Hurley is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow whose research has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and national awards.