TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Stetson cross country teams continued their 2026 campaign Friday morning at the Crimson Classic, hosted by the University of Alabama at Harry Pritchett Running Course. Competing against one of their strongest fields of the season, the Hatters closed out their regular-season slate with several strong performances ahead of the ASUN Championships.
The men's team opened the morning against a field that included nationally ranked Alabama along with Georgia Tech, Auburn and several other strong programs. Stetson finished ninth overall with 244 points, narrowly edging ASUN opponent Central Arkansas, which finished 10th with 248. The Hatters posted a 25:44.9 average among their scoring five with just 40.9 seconds separating their first and fifth finishers.
Senior Seth Singer led the way for Stetson, crossing the line in 25:21.7 to finish 37th overall. Sophomore Jonathan Pena was right alongside him, finishing just three-tenths of a second later in 25:22.0 to take 38th. The duo gave the Hatters two runners inside the top 40 of the field.
Sophomore Kenan Willard was Stetson's third finisher, placing 67th in 25:58.0, while senior Robbie Champa followed just two spots later in 69th with a time of 26:00.3. Blake Young rounded out the scoring five with a 26:02.6 performance in 73rd, putting Stetson's third through fifth runners across the line within five seconds of one another.
Senior Zeke Galbraith finished sixth for the Hatters in 26:50.8, while junior Nicholas Zamora completed Stetson's lineup with a time of 27:18.2.
On the women's side, Stetson sent a trio of runners into a deep field highlighted by nationally ranked Alabama and South Carolina. Hannah Judge led the Hatters in her return to the lineup, finishing 105th overall with a time of 22:26.2.
Judge was followed closely by sophomore Avery Sommers, who crossed the line just 3.4 seconds later in 22:29.6 to finish 108th. Junior Madi Kerr-Wong completed the Stetson trio in 22:32.8, placing 112th overall. The three Hatters were separated by just 6.6 seconds at the finish, giving Stetson a tightly packed group against the loaded field.
With the regular season now complete, Stetson will turn its attention to postseason competition. The Hatters return to action Oct. 30 at the ASUN Cross Country Championships in Richmond, Kentucky, where both teams will look to carry their regular-season progress into the conference meet.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
