TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Stetson cross country teams will continue their 2026 campaign Friday morning in the state capital at the FSU Pre-Regional Invitational, hosted by Florida State University at Apalachee Regional Park. Both teams will look to build on strong performances at the season-opening Florida Intercollegiate Invitational two weeks ago.
The Stetson men will open the day with the 8K at 7:40 a.m., moving up in distance after beginning the season with a 5K in Jacksonville. The Hatters enter the meet following a historic season opener that saw them finish fourth overall and earn the program's first victory over a regionally ranked opponent, defeating then-No. 15 Miami.
Sophomore Jonathan Pena led the way in Jacksonville, breaking Stetson's cross country 5K school record with a time of 15:07. Fellow sophomore Blake Young and seniors Robbie Champa, Seth Singer and Michael Petrovic also scored for the Hatters, with the latter three finishing consecutively in 22nd, 23rd and 24th place. The group will look to carry that momentum into its first 8K of the season.
The women's 6K will follow at 8:20 a.m., with the Hatters also moving up in distance after opening the year with a 5K. Junior transfer Micah Mizell enters the meet after an impressive Stetson debut, running 18:02 to finish eighth overall in Jacksonville and move into fifth on the program's all-time 5K list.
Sophomore Hannah Judge will also return to Tallahassee after placing 30th at this meet a season ago, the highest finish by a Hatter in meet history. Judge went on to set Stetson's 5K and 6K cross country records during her freshman campaign.
Sophomore Avery Sommers and junior Madi Kerr-Wong will also compete for the Hatters, along with freshmen Hannah Koontz and Sophia Gravelli. Stetson showed its depth in the season opener, with its third through seventh finishers crossing the line within 28 seconds of one another.
The course at Apalachee Regional Park will open at 6 a.m. for warmups and creatives. Friday's meet will also give the Hatters an early look at the course that will host the NCAA South Regional later this season.
Live results for both races will be available through PTTiming.
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.
