JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Stetson cross country teams opened the 2026 season Friday night at the Florida Intercollegiate Invitational, hosted by the University of North Florida. Rain and storms delayed the start of the meet, but once conditions cleared, the Hatters were able to get their season underway.
The women opened the night in the 5K, finishing seventh overall while placing ahead of Georgia Southern and FIU. Junior transfer Mizah Mizell led the way in her Stetson debut, running 18:02 to finish eighth overall. Her time ranks fifth all-time in program history.
Sophomore Hannah Judge was next across the line for the Hatters, placing 24th in 18:24. Junior Lucille Marquart (56th, 19:20), sophomore Avery Sommers (61st, 19:30) and freshman Hannah Koontz (65th, 19:38) rounded out Stetson's scoring five.
Junior Madi Kerr-Wong finished 67th in 19:46, while freshman Sophia Gravelli followed closely in 69th at 19:48. Stetson's third through seventh runners were separated by just 28 seconds, showing strong depth throughout the lineup.
The men followed with a historic team performance, finishing fourth overall and placing ahead of Miami. The result marked the program's first-ever victory over a regionally ranked opponent.
Sophomore Jonathan Pena led the Hatters with a 10th-place finish in 15:07, breaking Stetson's cross country 5K school record, which had stood for seven years.
A strong pack followed behind him, beginning with sophomore Blake Young, who placed 20th in 15:20.14. Seniors Robbie Champa (22nd, 15:23.64), Seth Singer (23rd, 15:25.08) and Michael Petrovic (24th, 15:25.14) crossed the line in succession to complete the Hatters' scoring five.
Sophomore Kenan Willard followed in 35th with a time of 15:43, while junior Nick Zamora finished 43rd in 15:51 to complete Stetson's top seven.
The Hatters will look to build on their opening-weekend performance when they return to action Sept. 18 at the FSU Pre-Regional Invitational in Tallahassee, Florida.
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.
