TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Stetson men's and women's cross country teams concluded their 2026 season Friday morning at the NCAA South Regional Championships, hosted by Florida State University at Apalachee Regional Park. Competing against a field featuring some of the nation's top-ranked programs and individuals, the Hatters closed out a memorable campaign highlighted by historic achievements and continued progress for both teams.
The women's team opened the morning in the championship 6K, led by junior Madison Kerr-Wong, who steadily worked her way through the field to finish 135th overall in 22:29. Kerr-Wong gained 30 positions over the course of the race to lead Stetson across the finish line.
Junior Micah Mizell followed in 161st place with a time of 22:47, improving 19 positions throughout the race. Sophomore Hannah Judge, who entered the meet as the program's cross country 6K record holder, completed the course in 23:57, while freshman Hannah Koontz made her NCAA South Regional debut with a time of 24:05. With four finishers, the Stetson women did not record a team score.
The men's team followed in the championship 10K, delivering a strong performance that resulted in the program's highest finish at the NCAA South Regional Championships. Stetson placed 16th overall with 438 points, providing a fitting conclusion to a season that also saw the Hatters earn their first regional ranking in program history.
Sophomore Kenan Willard and senior Seth Singer led the way for Stetson, finishing just one-tenth of a second apart. Willard crossed the line in 31:52.1 to place 78th overall, while Singer followed immediately behind in 79th with a time of 31:52.2. The pair continued their strong postseason performances after helping the Hatters secure a fourth-place finish at the ASUN Championships two weeks earlier.
Sophomore Jonathan Pena was close behind, placing 83rd overall to give Stetson three runners inside the top 85. Pena made a notable push during the middle portion of the race, gaining 14 positions between the 6K and 7K marks. Sophomore Blake Young and senior Robbie Champa completed the Hatters' scoring five, finishing 111th and 128th, respectively, to secure the team's 16th-place result.
The regional performance capped a historic fall for the Stetson men, who earned their first-ever USTFCCCA South Region ranking and recorded their highest ASUN Championship finish since 2018. Singer also earned Second Team All-ASUN honors with an 11th-place conference finish, the highest individual placement in program history, while Pena established school records in both the cross country 5K and 8K earlier in the season.
The women's team also enjoyed a successful campaign, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the ASUN Championships that represented a three-position improvement from the previous year.
With the 2026 cross country season complete, the Hatters will now turn their attention to the program's inaugural track season this spring.
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
