RICHMOND, Ky. — The Stetson men's and women's cross country teams will head to the Bluegrass State on Friday to compete in the 2026 ASUN Cross Country Championships, hosted by Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky.
The women's championship 5K will open competition at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by the men's championship 8K at 11:15 a.m. ET.
The Stetson women enter the conference championships looking to build on a regular season that featured several strong individual performances and continued development throughout the lineup. Picked fifth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Hatters will look to make their mark against a competitive conference field.
Sophomore Hannah Judge will look to lead Stetson after making her return to the lineup at the Crimson Classic two weeks ago. Judge, who owns the program's cross country 5K record, completed the shortened 6K course in 22:26.2 to finish as the Hatters' top runner. She will now return to the championship stage after a record-breaking freshman campaign that included a 17:33.4 performance at last year's ASUN Championships.
Junior Micah Mizell will also return to the course, providing another strong presence near the front of Stetson's lineup. Mizell has led the Hatters in each of her three appearances this fall, including a 14th-place finish at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational, where she completed the 6K in 22:00.
Joining the pair will be sophomore Avery Sommers and junior Madison Kerr-Wong, who have been consistent contributors throughout the season. The duo finished just 3.2 seconds apart at the Crimson Classic, with Sommers crossing the line in 22:29.6 and Kerr-Wong following in 22:32.8.
On the men's side, the Hatters will face a challenging championship field featuring three programs ranked among the top 15 in the NCAA South Region. Stetson, which was also selected fifth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches' Poll, enters Friday's competition following a regular season highlighted by multiple school records and some of the fastest performances in program history.
Senior Seth Singer will look to carry momentum from the Crimson Classic, where he led Stetson with a 37th-place finish in 25:21.7. Singer has been a consistent presence among the Hatters' top runners and currently holds the fifth-fastest 8K time in program history following his 24:43 performance at Georgia Tech earlier this month.
Sophomores Jonathan Pena and Kenan Willard will also look to continue their impressive campaigns. Pena has rewritten the Stetson record book this fall, establishing school records in both the cross country 5K and 8K, including a 24:18 performance at Georgia Tech. Willard also delivered a career-best effort at that meet, running 24:33 to move into third on the program's all-time 8K list.
Senior Robbie Champa and sophomore Blake Young will provide additional depth for the Hatters after finishing within 2.3 seconds of one another at the Crimson Classic. Champa completed the course in 26:00.3, while Young followed in 26:02.6. The duo helped Stetson finish ninth overall with 244 points, edging conference opponent Central Arkansas.
The men's team will look to build on its historic performance at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational, where the Hatters finished third overall and established a school record with a 24:47 average among their scoring five.
With the regular season behind them, both Stetson teams will look to translate their progress into strong performances on the conference stage before turning their attention to the NCAA South Regional in November.
Live results will be available throughout Friday's competition, with both championship races also scheduled to stream on ESPN+.
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.
