2026 D3 XC Men’s Preseason Rankings
SUNY Geneseo
NYU
Wartburg
Johns Hopkins
UW-La Crosse
MIT
RPI
Amherst
UChicago
North Central
Pomona-Pitzer
Washington & Lee
Carnegie Mellon
WashU
Tufts
UW-Stevens Point
Williams
Middlebury
Lebanon Valley
St. Olaf
Wesleyan
Lynchburg
UW-Platteville
Hope
CMS
Rose-Hulman
Bates
Pfeiffer
UW-Stout
Central College
John Carroll
Haverford
#1 SUNY Geneseo
Region: Niagara
Key Returners:
Emerson Comer
Pierce Young
Collin Brown
Connor Hitt
Thomas Blake
Owen Murphy
Ethan Becker
Key Losses:
Ryan Hagan
Anson Butler
Impact First Years:
Daniel McPhersion: 9:12 3200 and 4:15 1600
Jake Gaudette: 9:22 3200 and 4:16 1600
Milo Poerner: 9:24 3200
Rahlin Finch: 9:25 3200 and 4:24 1600
Brian Guiheen: 9:26 3200 and 4:25 1600
Henry Nilsen: 9:33 3200 and 4:19 1600
Ross Bush: 4:16 1600 and 1:51 800
SUNY Geneseo has their eyes on the prize following last year’s runner-up finish, but they have big shoes to fill after losing star runner Ryan Hagan as well as alternate turned 41st place near-All-American Anson Butler. However, they return a strong roster. Emerson Comer and Pierce Young are the returning All-Americans on this squad after their 15th and 29th place finishes, respectively, in 2025. Plug in nationals veterans Collin Brown, Connor Hitt, and Thomas Blake, combined with five incoming sub-9:30 3200m freshmen, and the Knights have all the pieces to make a championship team.
“The goal for this fall was to win the whole thing, but recently with the NCAA rule change, that forced Ryan Hagan to make a very difficult decision and he decided to transfer a bit earlier than he intended,” said Coach Dan Moore. “This doesn't change our goal, however, and that is to field a team that will be in the mix to win the whole thing. It's time to see who will step up and fill in for the departure of Ryan Hagan, as well as Anson Butler. I am excited with the runners who we have coming back, as well as the crop of freshmen eager to learn from the veteran runners to try and win a team cross country title. There is a lot of potential with this team.”
#2 NYU
Region: Niagara
Key Returners:
Theo Udelson-Nee
Liam Hagerty
Alex Hrycyszyn
Luke Munoz
Huck Oakes
Key Losses:
Jeffrey Chen
Andy Taylor
There’s no more hiding it for NYU. After a podium finish last year, the team-from-the-metro-that’s-actually-in-the-Niagara returns a star-studded team to 2026. Though they lose All-American Jeffrey Chen and their fifth Andy Taylor, the development of now-sophomore Theo Udelson-Nee in the track season is this team’s superpower. After two consecutive third place finishes at nationals in the 5k, Udelson-Nee comes into the fall as an individual contender. Joined by fellow All-American Liam Hagerty, this team has the firepower up front to be a major threat. Alex Hrycyszyn finished 44th last year and will have eyes on All-American position. With potential for three All-Americans, Oakes and Munoz need only stay close enough, and plugging in other members who were not on the nationals squad last year make this team that much deeper.
#3 Wartburg
Region: Midwest
Key Returners:
Isaiah Hammerand
Solomon Zaugg
Aidan Decker
Key Losses:
Lance Sobaski
Eli Larson
Jack Kinzer
Ander Julian
Tyler Schermerhorn
Wartburg loses lots of starpower from their 2025 third place team with the graduation of All-Americans Lance Sobaski, Eli Larson, and Jack Kinzer. They do, however, have one of the strongest low sticks in the nation in now senior Isaiah Hammerand, who led the way last year finishing 10th. With the development of Aidan Decker, who qualified for outdoor nationals in the steeplechase last year, and improvement from fifth man Solomon Zaugg, this team has plenty of potential and is not without depth on its roster. Do not be surprised to see them on the podium again in 2026 despite significant loss in their lineup from last year.
#4 Johns Hopkins
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Key Returners:
Caleb Tenney
Olaf Dietz
Anthony Clark
Key Losses:
Emmanuel Leblond
Impact First Years:
Edward and Elliot Stout (4:06c/8:53)
Anthony Sarro (4:07/8:57)
Connor Fanberg (4:04)
Johns Hopkins finished sixth last year and will most certainly look to remain as a top six program. The major loss this team suffers is from losing the individual champion last year in Emmanuel Leblond. The Bluejays will return freshman indoor 5k All-American Anthony Clark, 3:41 1500m runner Caleb Tenney, and Olaf Dietz to the team along with one of the strongest freshman classes to date: Edward and Elliot Stout, who have run 8:53 and 8:51 for 3200m, along with Anthony Sarro who has run 8:57 and Connor Fanberg with a 4:04 1600m.
The expectation for this team is that if they stay healthy and take the next step, they can surely be a podium team. The major meet that this team will be traveling to will be Pre-Nationals which will be a great way to sift through teams across all regions. If this team can continue their momentum from outdoor nationals and utilize their new talent, the Bluejays can cement themselves as a premier program in D3.
#5 UW-La Crosse
Region: North
Key Returners:
Chuck Vater
Nico Castellanos
Owen Clark
Isaac Ewing
Declan Gregg
Chase Altergott
Key Losses:
Aidan Matthai
Grant Matthai
Jayden Zywicki
Joey Sullivan
Mason Brown
Impact First Years:
Ben Weston (1:53 / 4:15 / 9:04 / 15:19 XC / 14:36 NON)
After graduating its entire national championship team, UWL enters a massive rebuilding year, which allows many of its younger members to now step into the spotlight. Chuck Vater and Nico Castellanos return from last year’s national squad after posting top-100 finishes as the 6th and 7th runners and will look to lead an inexperienced team against the nation’s best. Known for developing its athletes into top D3 talent, don’t be surprised to see big jumps from younger returners like Owen Clark, who was a two-time All-American on the track last year including a third place finish in the indoor 3k, as well as Isaac Ewing, Declan Gregg, and Chase Altergott. The Eagles only bring in one impact first year in sub-15 5ker Ben Weston, so development of the team’s existing members will be crucial.
“We graduated a national championship team, and with that comes a new challenge,” said Coach Derek Stanley. “The true strength of a program is revealed in moments like these. A culture rooted in development prepares the next generation, and I'm excited to watch our men embrace that challenge.”
#6 MIT
Region: East
Key Returners:
Renne Cooper
Yichen Sun
Tim Neumann
Dylan Fiegener
Owen Sondag
Key Losses:
Jake Cobb
Impact First Years:
Michael Mohoric (4:05, 9:01)
Alex Bland (9:04)
Colin Aysun (9:00)
Aiden Aysun - (9:08)
Top-10 national finishers MIT return their top six varsity members from last year’s team that placed ninth in the nation, including lone All-American Renne Cooper, who was 27th, near-All-American Yichen Sun, DMR All-American Tim Neumann, and freshman 5k national qualifier Dylan Fiegener. Though not on last year’s varsity, Owen Sondag posted a top-10 finish in the national 10k with a qualifying time of 29:48, which will translate well to the upcoming cross country season. With an impressive incoming class that includes four 9:00 two-milers, don’t be surprised to see young talent vying for a spot on the Engineers’ varsity team. “We have an eager, hungry group that has been developing for the last few years,” said
Coach Riley Macon.* “We are no longer a young team, and the men are looking to prove themselves.” Watch this squad compete in both Prenats and Conn College against some of the nation’s best.
*After writing, Macon accepted a job at UNC Charlotte.
#7 RPI
Region: Mideast
Key Returners:
Evan Lacey
Colin Goldschmidt
Jack Czarnecki
Thomas Manson
Dom Pena
Key Losses:
Tobin Durham
Jack Loughery
Justin Cascio
Though RPI graduated three from their top seven, they only lost 4 from their top 14, making the depth of this 2026 team its superpower. Evan Lacey is the returning favorite on this squad after a 22nd place All-American finish in 2025 and is supported by Colin Goldschmidt, who finished close behind in 26th. This duo has the potential to lead this team to great heights even in the face of losing fellow 2025 All-American Tobin Durham. Jack Czarnecki comes off of a strong track season finishing 7th in the nationals 1500 and will look to close the gap on Goldschmidt this fall. The key to this team’s success is closing this gap and plugging in new members to the national squad in 2026, like eighth man Dom Pena, who was top 5 for RPI at Augustana in 2025.
“We really like this group,” said Head Coach John Lynch. “We have seniors who have been to the NCAA Championships and have proven they can compete at a high level, and we also have a group of guys who have made huge strides over the last nine months. We’re excited to see them carry that development into the fall and believe a lot of them are ready to run significantly better than they did last cross country season and during the spring.”
#8 Amherst College
Region: Mideast
Key Returners:
Stan Craig
Harrison Dow
Carter Bengtson
Parker Boyle
*Ben Kasen
*Caleb Barnes
*Sam Young
*Jacob Connolly
*means that they were not in the top-7 last year at nationals.
Key Losses:
Henry Dennen
Drew Stephens
Thomas Stephens
Impact First Years:
Michael Rynne (8:37 3K, 4:17 Mile, 15:05 5K XC)
Ryan Monohan (4:07 / 1:51.0)
Jonah Schulman (9:15)
Malik Gbadamassi (15:04 3 mi, 4:16 1600)
Anand Maru (9:30 3K Steeple)
Noah Bizer (1:52/4:17)
Chris Doherty (1:53/4:17)
The Mammoths of Amherst will only grow stronger in 2026. The men lost Henry Dennen who was 66th last year and fourth on the team, and both Drew and Thomas Stephens, both consistently fifth through seventh runners. This is a very experienced team with a lot of momentum following their 11th place finish last year and their first ever NESCAC track team title. This team will most certainly add to their roster of upperclassmen with many impact first years such as Michael Rynne, a 15:05 for 5k in Cross Country as well as state champions Ryan Monohan and Jonah Schulman.
Along with this supporting cast, the Mammoths return Stan Craig, Harrison Dow, Carter Bengtson, and Parker Boyle. Returning this group alone serves as a huge benefit to Amherst. With this team combining championship experience from ‘25 along with freshmen that will mix it up in the NCAA, this will be quite the group to watch. If this team can continue their momentum and bring their star-studded freshmen up to speed, Amherst might be eyeing up to be a podium contender this fall.
#9 U. of Chicago
Region: Midwest
Key Returners:
Sanju Patel
Evan Parker
Grant Musick
Isaac Cohen
Liam Eifert
Noah Bender
Key Losses:
Spencer May
Impact First Years:
Nicholas Burke (4:16.65, 9:29.08)
Owen Dawson (4:16.51)
Spencer Haag (4:19.65, 9:38.50)
Jackson Hickey (9:27.78)
Leo Lucente (9:27.28)
Simon Saffayeh (4:15.12, 9:20.80)
Aidan Sharp (4:14.24, 9:24.34)
U of Chicago showed its force in 2025 when the men’s team took runner-up to two national podium teams at their conference and regional meets. Second to NYU at UAAs and second to Wartburg at Midwest Regionals, UChicago carried its momentum to a 12th place nationals finish. Returning all but their No. 2 Spencer May, look for this team to make a swing at a top 10 finish in 2026. Sanju Patel is the Maroons’ lone returning XC All-American, but they return a group of athletes with a tight pack in Evan Parker, Liam Eifert, Isaac Cohen, Noah Bender, and Grant Musick. The key for this squad will be closing the gap on their pack to low stick Patel. With the addition of five sub-4:20 milers and two more sub-9:30 two-milers, the Maroons introduce a strong incoming class of freshmen to make an immediate impact. “Our men have high expectations for '26,” said Head Coach Chris Hall. “[I] believe this is the best team we have ever had on the men's side and would like to eclipse our highest ever finish (9th).” Watch for the Maroons at the Joe Piane Invitational at Notre Dame.
#10 North Central College
Region: Midwest
Key Returners:
BJ Sorg
Ari Elmayan
Jack Galminas
Nolan Crooks
Daniel Kasperan
Tyler Schick
Key Losses:
Jacob Kluckhohn
Aidan Armstrong
Impact First Years:
Carson Lanners (15:01)
Christopher Quick (15:18)
Mekhai Wright (15:18)
Kyle Bryant (9:19)
North Central remains a top 10 team in the division and look to continue their dominant legacy in 2026. The Cardinals return All-American BJ Sorg who looks to lead the team once again along with Ari Elmayan, Jack Galminas, Nolan Crooks. Other returners outside of last year’s top seven include Daniel Kasperan and Tyler Schick. The Cardinals lose Jacob Kluckhoh and Aidan Armstrong who were 45th and 132nd last year.
With this returning cast alone, the Cardinals will be a good team but they are aided by impact first years such as Carson Lanners, Christopher Quick (amazing last name for a runner), Mekhi Wright, and Kyle Bryant, you have the depth to quickly form another top ten team. What this team needs to do well is continue their North Central legacy by having a strong pack with Sorg at the helm.
#11 Pomona-Pitzer
Region: West
Key Returners:
Jefferson Wright
Peter Neid
Tiernan Colby
Ian Sharp
Nate Wehner
Owen Irving
Key Losses:
Jack Stein
Amir Barkin
Impact First Years:
Ryan Fitzpatrick - 9:02 2 mile / 5k XC 15:05
Cruz Espinoza - 4:14 mile / 5k XC 15:54
Finn Harrington - 4:12 mile
Last year’s eighth place team Pomona-Pitzer loses its top two All-Americans Jack Stein (11th) and Amir Barkan (23rd), but brings back a strong frontrunner in Jeff Wright, who finished 34th. With returners Peter Neid (74th), Tiernan Colby, Ian Sharp, and Nate Wehner, as well as Owen Irving and a trio of freshman talent, the key for the Sagehens in 2026 will be to develop their frontend athletes to replace the hotels left from Stein and Barkin. Should they be successful, they should be able to replicate or better their top 8 finish.
"This year's team brings together an experienced and accomplished veteran group, complemented by a talented class of first-years who will bring fresh energy, enthusiasm, and fire to an already established program,” said Coach Emma DeLira. “We are excited about the potential of this group and look forward to seeing what they can accomplish together this season."
#12 Washington & Lee University
Region: South
Key Returners:
Sam Daunt
Robert Cooper
Thomas Franklin
William Dunaway
Jackson Kodenski
Key Losses:
Keaton Rush
Impact Transfers:
Matt Kelly
Impact First Years:
Duncan Smith (4:23/9:32/16:03)
Jake Miranda (4:19/9:29/16:26)
Jason Oberly (4:19/15:58)
Asher Green (1:57/4:21/15:57)
Will Pacey (1:57/4:18/9:46/15:25)
Andrew Wasserman (1:54/4:21/15:49)
After a 20th place finish at nationals last year, Washington and Lee returns to 2026 hungry. Though they lose last year’s number one Keaton Rush, they return Sam Daunt, who finished just one place behind Rush in 70th. Robert Cooper, who suffered heat-related illness in the final kilometer of nationals in 2025, finished 51st in 2024 and will look to lead this team from the front. Returning six from last year’s national squad plays in this team’s favor. Add to the mix Johns Hopkins transfer and 30:19 10ker Matt Kelly and a large freshman group of sub-16 5kers and this team has all the right pieces for a top-10 finish: All-American contenders, a good pack, and depth beyond seven athletes.
#13 Carnegie Mellon
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Key Returners:
Nico Fasanelli
Matthew Short
York Bourgeois
Ollie Moss
Adam Kollgaard
Nate Massie
Jack Flori
Stefan Langridge
Tanay Parikh
Key Losses:
Ryan Podnar
Impact First Years:
Jonathan Stetchock (4:09, 8:58)
Lukas Disko (9:04,)
Will Edgar (9:05)
Umed Maru (9:27 3k steeple)
Though they lose 2024 All-American Ryan Podnar, Carnegie Mellon returns 6 of their 7 nationals performers from 2025 and are expected to make a strong push in 2026. Ollie Moss leads the way following a 53rd place finish last year and will look to a strong list of returners, developing sophomores, and a trio of strong incoming 2-milers to help propel the Tartans into a top 15 finish.
“Unlike last fall's group, which only had one runner (Podnar) with NCAA regional/national experience and didn't have much depth, this year's group is more experienced and potentially has good depth,” said Coach Tim Connelly. “We always have very high expectations for our teams, and this group seems ready to try to exceed those expectations.”
CMU will showcase its depth at Paul Short, Geneseo, and UAAs this season.
#14 WashU
Region: Midwest
Key Returners:
Max Sudrzynski - 62nd at XC NCAA's (14:38 & 3:51)
Sean Green - 115th at XC NCAA's (Injured during track)
Charlie Houck - 167th at XC NCAA's (14:34)
Rishi Shadaksharappa - 170 at XC NCAA's (14:57)
Ben Lorenz 195th at XC NCAA's (14:57)
Gavin O'Connor 239th at XC NCAA's (14:53)
Will Liu DNR XC NCAA's (9:10 steeple /14:40 5k)
Key Losses:
Conor Daly 67th at xc ncaa's
Impact First Years:
Toby Wong (14:51)
WashU returns six athletes from last year’s national squad, most of whom were freshmen at the time, including their nationals number one Max Sudrzynski, who finished 62nd, just ahead of lone graduating senior Conor Daly. After the development of Will Liu during the track season and with the addition of sub-15 5ker Toby Wong, this young group is loaded with potential. Coach Jeff Stiles says the team will focus on three things in 2026:
1. Competing
2. Enjoying the process
3. Taking Ownership
“We finished 16th last year and we need to prove that we have taken steps forward,” Stiles said. “We are going to apply the wise words of Naval Adm. William H. McRaven and begin each day by making our beds.”
#15 Tufts
Region: East
Key Returners:
Harris Gulbransen
Jonah Reisner,
Meba Henok
Sam Kurian
Chris Hovet
Gabe Grove
Aidan Max
Key Losses:
Cullen McCaleb
Quinn Hampson
Amo Aouchiche 2024
Calvin Cummings
Luke Brennan
Impact First Year:
Ellis Wood 9:12
Elliot Reines 9:15
Tufts loses a star-studded class who helped the Jumbos post a seventh place finish last year, but they remain optimistic about the development of their returners. Filling the shoes of All-Americans Cullen McCaleb (21st XC All-American in 2025), Quinn Hampson (1500m All-American), and Amo Aouchiche (2024 XC All-American) will be a tall task, but the duo of Harris Gulbransen and Jonah Reisner bring a wealth of experience into 2026. Gulbransen is a three-time XC national qualifier, and Reisner took runner up at NESCACs last year. Development of the younger returners, who all have strong track resumes, will be important to this team’s success in the fall.
#16 UW-Stevens Point
Region: North
Key Returners:
Logan Murphy
Mateo Alvarado Venegas
Dean Montour
Malachi Kurth
Sean Heetland
Martin Kimmell
Key Losses:
Mike Brown
The UW-Steven’s Point Pointers have risen to prominence in the last few years which culminated in an 18th place finish. While the team loses fourth runner Mike Brown, they return a wealth of runners with experience. Top returners from the meet Mateo Alvarado Venegas and Logan Murphy, who finished 60th and 64th respectively, look to aim for those coveted All-American spots.
This team also returns Dean Montour, Malachi Kurth, Sean Heetland, Martin Kimmell, the latter three all ran at the national meet. This team will certainly be at the top of the North Region and possibly the nation as they look to improve on their team finish while competing at other high-powered meets such as Pre-Nationals and the Augustana Interregional Rumble.
#17 Williams College
Region: Mideast
Key Returners:
Keiyu Mamiya
Emil Nelson
Malcolm Oakes
Eli Welch
Key Losses:
Luke Zanuck
Nikhil DeNatale
Ryan Hardiman
Rick Yanashita
Despite losing a large senior class, Williams returns three from last year’s national team that all hope to lead the team in 2026 to a top-20 finish following last year’s 14th place finish. Eli Welch is the top returner after a 75th place finish in 2025. Malcolm Oakes and Keiyu Mamiya will look to also lead with experience, especially after Mamiya’s All-American anchor leg in the DMR indoors.
“We go into each year with the same expectations - work hard, form a cohesive team, give our best competitive effort at races,” said Coach Dusty Lopez. “We're excited to see development from returners and find out where the newcomers can contribute.”
#18 Middlebury
Region: Mideast
Key Returners:
Cameron Miles
Benjamin Hughes
Ethan Sholk
Zach Utz
Nathan Szubin
Key Losses:
Owen Johnson
Harry Griff
Middlebury loses their first and seventh runner from last year’s 21st place team at nationals, returning a solid core of performers. The two freshmen on this team, Nathan Szubin and Ethan Sholk, gained some valuable experience to bring into their sophomore year and will key off of the older returners on this team to try to better last year’s finish, maybe even cracking the top 20.
#19 Lebanon Valley
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Key Returners:
Rory Lieberman
Andrew Namatka
Lukas Walko
Wyatt Leitzel
Dylan Lenhart
Sam Bower
Donnie Miller
Key Losses:
Joe Chukoskie
Eric Shelton
Sam Rothstein
Impact First Years:
Josh Miller: 16:05 / 4:36.5 / 9:56.8
Logan Koehn: 16:56.4 / 10:14.9
Cooper Allred: 17:05 / 4:28.6 / 10:05.2
Jaycob Harle: 17:39.5 /, 4:35.3 / 10:04.1
Lebanon Valley took the division by storm last year as they qualified for the national meet for the first time ever. This was huge for the program as they took the first step towards building the program to be nationally recognized. Key returners for this program include Rory Lieberman who was the top Dutchman last year along with teammates Andrew Namatka, Lukas Walko, and Wyatt Leitzel. This team continued to have a great track season with multiple sub 15-minute performances. This step forward, along with qualifying for the meet last year, could prove monumental to the program.
With all things to consider this year, Head Coach James O'Brien stated about the team that, “This will be important to see if we were a flash in the pan last year or if we have the ability to repeat with another trip to nationals. Though we have a strong top four returning and talent ready to step up beyond that, we know this is a difficult task. But we're excited for the opportunity ahead to show that we belong”. Time will tell for the Dutchman as they introduce Josh Miller, Logan Koehn, Cooper Allred, and Jaycob Harle to the program to add to their 22nd place finish.
#20 St. Olaf College
Region: North
Key Returners:
Alex Bjork (5th scorer at NCAA 2025)
Cooper Gundersen (6th on team at NCAA 2025)
Garrett Seppanen (14:35 5k and 3:51 1500 this spring)
Connor Hitchcock (Alternate at NCAA CC as freshman)
Noah Duvivier (14:52 5k this spring)
Key Losses:
Kevin Turlington
The Oles of St. Olaf take a heavy hit losing five of their seven racers from NCAAs last year including 12th place XC All-American Kevin Turlington, and will rely on the experience of lone returners Alex Bjork and Cooper Gundersen, who were the team’s fifth and sixth at nationals in 2025. Runners Garrett Seppanen, Connor Hitchcock, and Noah Duvivier will rely on the momentum of strong track seasons to fill the holes on this incoming 2026 team.
“While we lost a lot of veteran leadership from last year’s team, we have a talented group of returners that are excited to step up and fill those scoring positions,” said Coach Luke Kopnick. “We had a strong spring on the track where this group continued to improve and develop. We will look to carry that momentum into this fall on the cross country course.”
#21 Wesleyan
Region: Mideast
Key Returners:
Ben McKinney
Emmett Leachman
Dan Irish
Knox Wallask
Boomer Weisman
Key Losses:
Liam Calhoun
Alex Kermath
Impact First Years:
Zeke Cohen: 3200m - 9:19
Iliyan Hajiani: 3200m - 9:22
Jeffrey Sunderlin: 3200m - 9:26
Led by graduating seniors Liam Calhoun and Alex Kermath, Wesleyan posted a 17th place finish at last year’s XC nationals. Though they lose both frontrunners, they return a group of five from last year’s national team and add to their depth Ben McKinney, Emmett Leachman, Dan Irish, and Knox Wallask, as well as three high school sub-9:30 two-milers.
“I am excited about the potential of this year’s team,” said Coach Leo Mayo. “Our goal is to continue improving from last season with strong leadership, commitment, and our positive team culture.”
“A quote that we have rallied around as a team is, ‘If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten,’” Mayo added. “We have discussed the importance of setting new goals, both individually and as a team. We continue challenging ourselves and improving. This mindset of continuous growth and the willingness to push beyond our previous standards is what has allowed our program to improve every year.”
#22 University of Lynchburg
Region: South
Key Returners:
Cameron Sidebotham
Aidan Riggle
Alex Paciello
Randy White
Daniel Rockey
Rami Dib
Jack Weddle
Key Losses:
Alex Jordan
Jonathan Cobb
Impact Transfers:
Elijah Thompson (Rockhurst)
Ty Blair (Eastern Kentucky, not confirmed yet but may be announced soon)
Impact First Years:
Josef Gruendel
Logan Bromley
James Mulcahey
Nate Kach
The Lynchburg Hornets will lose their top two finishers, Jonathan Cobb and Alex Jordan, from last year’s national team that placed 26th overall. They did not land anyone in All-American position in 2025, so the keys to their success will be a low-stick who can lead the way with a top-40 finish and moving their pack out from the 200’s and more toward the middle of the race. Assistant Coach Sam Llaneza is excited about his second year with the men’s program and putting his focus on November. “[We have a] ton of 5k/10k guys on the roster compared to years previous,” he said. “[It] should be interesting to see where they finish. With some additions from transfers and with more development over the summer, there's a chance we could make some noise later in the season.”
#23 UW-Platteville
Region: North
Key Returners:
Zach Sporaa
Max Voss
Max Sporaa
Paul Pfeifer
Matt Tippel
Hayden Treibold
Spencer Thiry
Key Losses:
Caden Schneider
Josh Stone
Impact First Years:
Bennett Story (15:59/9:34/4:26)
Kelton Koepp (15:39/4:31)
Bradyn Wendorff (16:08/1:56/4:28)
WIAC program UW-Platteville hit its stride last year, capturing a WIAC runner-up finish and third place North Regional finish ahead of their 19th place nationals finish. Though they lose nationals scorers Caden Schneider (120th) and Josh Stone (126th), they return their No. 1 Zach Sporaa, No. 4 Max Voss, No. 5 Max Sporaa, as well as national competitors Paul Pfeifer and Matt Tippel. Plugging in a healthy Hayden Treibold, sub-4 1500 runner Spencer Thiry, and three impact freshmen, two of which with sub-16 5k PRs, should work in this team’s favor as they chase their goal of a better nationals finish in 2026. “Our expectations for this fall is a Top 15 placement at the National Championships,” said Head Coach James Akita. “The team fell short of our goal by finishing 19th at Nationals last year. With a more experienced squad in late season pressure, we are ready to perform and turn some heads.”
#24 Hope College
Region: Great Lakes
Key Returners:
Logan Begeman
Cooper Jacobsen
Elias Kretchmar
Aiden Moore
Elijah Forbord
Noah Norse
Joe Waalkes
Nile Devers
Key Losses:
Ian Petruska
Carston Cole
Lucas Guidone
Jonathan Harlow
Impact First Years:
Ethan Hertza 15:38, 9:25
Jake Follett 16:07, 9:50
Lucas Gates 9:35
Keagan Smith 16:05
Jack Steen 15:53, 9:42
Logan Westgate 15:58, 9:49
Hope men come off of a momentous season in which they captured the MIAA crown over Calvin for the first time in 37 years. They carried this momentum toward a Great Lakes Regional crown and a 23rd place national finish. They return MIAA champ Logan Begeman as well as national participants and All-Region finishers Cooper Jacobsen, Elias Kretchmar, and Aiden Moore, but suffer significant losses from 2024 All-American Ian Petruska and national qualifiers Carston Cole, Lucas Guidone, and Jonathan Harlow. With three incoming freshmen joining the Dutch as sub-16 5kers, the key for Hope will be plugging these first years seamlessly into the shoes of their graduates. Head Coach Mark Northuis says he is “excited about the progress the team made in the 2026 track season [as well as about] their incoming class and the development of their younger runners, which should translate into a strong 2026 cross country season.”
#25 CMS
Region: West
Key Returners:
Charlie Routledge
Ethan Wood
Raja Mehendale
Key Losses:
Hayden Beauchemin
Impact First Years:
Tay Ohr- Rottler (15:40, 4:20)
Heath Salter (15:26)
CMS returns five of their seven nationals performers from the 2025 team that placed 28th and adds to the mix key returners Charlie Routledge, Ethan Wood, and Raja Mehendale, as well as a pair of sub-16 5kers in Tay Ohr-Rottler and Heath Salter. Now a year wiser, the Stags will look to translate experience and depth into a top-25 finish to better last year’s result.
#26 Rose-Hulman
Region: Great Lakes
Key Returners:
Rhys Phelps
Will Boschen
Eduardo Del Rosal
Chris Lynn
John Gries
Wyatt Starkie (not on top 7)
Xaiden Jenson (not on top 7)
Key Losses:
Sam Rinker (on co-op for Fall 2026)
Joshua Pohle (graduation)
Impact First Years:
Grayson Rorick (15:52 5k XC, 4:20 1600m, 9:28 3200m)
Kole Steele (15:22 5k Track, 4:32 Mile, 9:31 3200m)
Elijah Weaver (15:49 5k XC, 4:33 1600m, 9:57 3200m)
Kade Schweikhardt (16:57 5k XC, 1:51 800m, 4:27 1600m, 9:46 3200m)
With a 1-2 punch from Joshua Pohle and Sam Rinker, Rose-Hulman booked their trip to nationals when they finished runner-up at Great Lakes regionals. Unfortunately, neither athlete is on the roster in 2026, as Pohle graduated and Rinker will be on co-op. However, will instead need to rely on returners Rhys Phelps (number 2 at nationals), Will Boschen, Eduardo Del Rosal, Chris Lynn, and John Gries. Rinker did not race nationals last year, and the Engineers placed 29th, so this group of returners knows what they need to do to return to the biggest stage in D3. The key to their success will mainly be replacing Pohle. With a jaw-dropping 34 incoming freshmen on the team, chances of a first-year stepping up to provide additional depth to this team is likely.
“We bring five back from the seven that ran at nationals, and all five are seniors,” said Coach Derick Lawrence. “We have an exciting mix of returners making improvements as well as freshmen that can make an immediate impact.”
#27 Bates
Region: East
Key Returners:
Jack Crum
Nathaniel Aronson
Max Hoffman
Ross Tejeda
Campbell MacDonald
Nate Roberts
Miles Logan
Despite not making it out of the East Region last year, Bates returns their entire squad of regional performers, who all placed within the top 40. They fought back and forth with Colby all year, with Colby ultimately earning the nationals bid, but with Colby graduating its top three runners, we give Bates the nod in 2026. Crum and Aronson gained some valuable nationals experience last year racing as individuals and will look to lead this squad.
#28 Pfeiffer
Region: South
Key Returners:
Jorge Clemente-Garcia
Cannon Powell
Bricen Burleson
Alim Coleman
Ezequiel Canas
Camden Misenheimer
Key Losses:
Sawyer Helms
Pfeiffer narrowly missed a bid out of the south region last year. The good news for them is that they return their entire team except Sawyer Helms, giving them good potential to make a swing at qualifying for nationals in 2026. Jorge Clemente-Garcia and Cannon Powell are among the returners who gained valuable nationals experience in 2025 and will look to lead this team to the big dance in the 2026 Pfeiffer redemption tour.
#29 UW-Stout
Region: North
Key Returners:
Julian Van Antwerp
Alex Chartrand
Mason Aide
John Nehmzow
Alexander Burmeister
Niko Dayment
Josh Ellerman
Key Losses:
None from Regionals
Don’t let last year’s eighth place finish at North regionals fool you. Stout returns their entire lineup from last year’s regional squad and has the momentum of a strong track season on their side that saw their fifth best 5ker at 15:18. Making the national meet will take beating every North regional team possible in the postseason, but with a year of experience under their belt, Stout could be a rising force in the north.
#30 Central College
Region: Midwest
Key Returners:
Jack Brown
William Wadsley
Donovan Card
Ben Every
Dillon Starlin
Jack Every
Andrew Mahaffey
The development of Jack Brown into a national champion miler is huge for Central. Though he finished 87th at XC nationals last year, Brown heads into the fall with plenty of confidence to lead this team of returners to nationals. Central returns every member of their regional squad, including Williams Wadsley, who also got a look at nationals experience in 2025. Midwest rivals Loras lose their only two runners to finish higher than 232nd place at nationals, and therefore a new Iowa spotlight is ready for Central College.
#31 John Carroll
Region: Great Lakes
Key Returners:
Sam Su
Phil Coury
Nate Julien
Joey Naiman
Chuck Reigrut
Charles Payne
Key Losses:
Ian Paul
Led by 1500m national runner up Sam Su, John Carroll returns all but one from last year’s regional squad that finished third. After a strong track season that sees just a 25-second gap between their first and fifth 5kers, tight pack running will be this team’s strength in 2026. It might take a top-two finish at Great Lakes regionals to secure a spot, but with an appetite from last year on their side, look for this squad to return to the national ranks.
#32 Haverford
Region: Metro
Key Returners:
Simon Lane
Owen Bluman
Cole Branstrom
Luke de Valpine
Wade Garoutte
Key Losses:
Micah Lachman
Jakob Maiwald
Despite missing out on an automatic bid to nationals last year following a loss to TCNJ, Haverford returns a strong group from regionals and has the momentum of a great track season on their side. Four of their returners broke 15 minutes in the 5k including freshman breakout sensation Simon Lane, who ran 3:46 to finish sixth in the 1500m final outdoors. The team is starting to find their identity in the post-Tom Donnelly era, and 2026 could be the year they make it back to nationals for the first time since 2023, following a hiatus that broke a 26-year long team streak at nationals.