DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — The Stetson cross country teams continued their 2026 campaign Friday morning at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational at Foxhall Sporting Club, turning in one of the strongest overall performances of the season as both teams placed inside the top six.
The men's team opened the morning with a historic performance, placing third overall while rewriting several spots in the Stetson record book.
Sophomore Jonathan Pena led the charge with another record-breaking performance, finishing ninth overall in 24:18 to set a new Stetson 8K school record. The performance continued an impressive start to Pena's sophomore campaign and marked his second school record of the season after he broke the program's cross country 5K record in the season opener at the Florida Intercollegiate Invitational.
Pena has now led the Hatters across the line in each of their first three meets of the season.
He was far from the only Hatter to make his mark on the record book Friday. Sophomore Kenan Willard crossed the line in 24:33, while senior Seth Singer followed just 10 seconds later in 24:43. The performances moved Willard to third and Singer to fifth on Stetson's all-time 8K list, giving the Hatters three of the five fastest marks in program history in the same race.
The senior duo of Robbie Champa and Michael Petrovic completed the scoring five. Champa crossed the line in 27th place with a time of 25:04, while Petrovic finished 34th in 25:18.
With all five scorers crossing the line within one minute of each other, the Hatters combined for a 24:47 average, setting a new program record for the fastest 1-5 average in school history. The performance helped propel Stetson to a third-place team finish.
The women's 6K followed, with junior Micah Mizell continuing her impressive start as a Hatter. Mizell led Stetson for the third consecutive meet, crossing the line in 22:00 to finish 14th overall. The performance also marked her best 6K time of the young season after running 22:20 at the FSU Pre-Regional two weeks earlier.
Junior Madi Kerr-Wong continued her strong start to the season as well, finishing 28th overall in 22:37. Kerr-Wong improved by 27 seconds from her performance in Tallahassee, where she ran 23:04.
Sophomore Avery Sommers was the third Hatter across the line, finishing in 23:02. Freshmen Hannah Koontz and Sophia Gravelli rounded out Stetson's scoring five with times of 23:51 and 24:10, respectively, placing 72nd and 78th.
The Hatters totaled 167 points to finish sixth overall, placing ahead of Georgia Southern and Georgia State. The result continued a strong start to the season for a Stetson lineup that has combined veteran experience with a growing group of underclassmen.
With three meets now complete, the Hatters will turn their attention toward the latter half of the regular season. Stetson returns to action in two weeks at the Crimson Tide Invitational, hosted by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The meet will provide another strong test as the Hatters prepare to compete against some of the nation's top programs ahead of championship season.
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.
