TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Stetson men's and women's cross country teams will conclude their 2026 campaign on Friday morning at the NCAA South Regional Championships, hosted by Florida State at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
The women's 6K championship race will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET, followed by the men's 10K at 9:30 a.m. ET. Both teams will compete against a challenging regional field featuring some of the top distance-running programs in the Southeast, with opportunities to advance to the NCAA Championships.
The Stetson men enter Friday's competition following one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Hatters earned their first-ever USTFCCCA South Region ranking earlier this month, checking in at No. 14 after an impressive fourth-place finish at the ASUN Championships. The conference performance marked Stetson's highest finish since 2018, with the team totaling 97 points to finish just three behind third-place Bellarmine and 32 ahead of fifth-place Florida Gulf Coast.
Senior Seth Singer will look to lead the Hatters following a historic performance at the conference championships, where he finished 11th overall to earn Second Team All-ASUN honors. His finish was the highest individual placement by a Stetson runner in program history at the ASUN Championships. Singer has been a consistent contributor throughout the fall, including a 24:43 performance at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational that ranks fifth on Stetson's all-time 8K list.
Sophomores Jonathan Pena and Kenan Willard will also look to carry their strong seasons into the regional championship. Pena has established school records in both the cross country 5K and 8K this fall, highlighted by a 24:18 performance at Georgia Tech. Willard joined him among the program's fastest runners at that meet, completing the course in 24:33 to move into third on Stetson's all-time 8K list.
Senior Robbie Champa and sophomore Blake Young will provide additional experience and depth after contributing to the Hatters' fourth-place conference finish. The pair helped Stetson place all five scoring runners inside the top 31 at the ASUN Championships, continuing a season in which the men's team has consistently demonstrated its strength throughout the lineup. Senior Zeke Galbraith will round out Stetson's six-man contingent as the Hatters prepare for the longer 10K championship distance.
On the women's side, Stetson enters the NCAA South Regional following an equally encouraging showing at the ASUN Championships. The Hatters finished fourth overall with 124 points, improving three positions from their seventh-place finish in 2025 and surpassing their fifth-place projection in the conference preseason coaches' poll.
Sophomore Hannah Judge will look to build upon her return to competition this fall after leading Stetson at the Alabama Crimson Classic, where she completed the shortened 6K course in 22:26.2. Judge holds the program's cross country records in both the 5K and 6K, including a 21:37 performance at last year's NCAA South Regional Championships.
Junior Micah Mizell will also be a key contributor for the Hatters after emerging as one of the team's leading runners throughout the regular season. Mizell recorded a 22:00 performance at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational, finishing 14th overall, and has provided a consistent presence near the front of Stetson's lineup.
Sophomore Avery Sommers and junior Madison Kerr-Wong will look to continue their contributions following a strong showing at the Crimson Classic, where they finished just 3.2 seconds apart. Sommers completed the course in 22:29.6, while Kerr-Wong followed in 22:32.8, helping the Hatters place three runners within 6.6 seconds of one another.
Freshmen Hannah Koontz and Sophia Gravelli will complete Stetson's six-runner lineup, gaining valuable postseason experience after contributing throughout their first collegiate cross country seasons. Both competed at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational earlier this fall, with Koontz finishing in 23:51 and Gravelli following in 24:10.
Friday's regional championship will mark Stetson's second trip to Apalachee Regional Park this season after competing at the FSU Pre-Regional Invitational in September. With both programs coming off fourth-place finishes at the ASUN Championships, the Hatters will look to close out their historic 2026 campaign with another strong performance against the region's top competition.
The top two teams from each regional championship will earn automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, while additional team and individual berths will be determined through the national selection process.
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.
