FINDLAY, Ohio—The depth of Walsh’s program was showcased on Saturday as the Cavaliers earned their fourth straight team title in six years following the conclusion of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Championship.
 
The Cavaliers scored in the 8K competition with a combined team time of 2:04:16. It was strength in numbers for head coach Rob Mizicko, who was also voted the Great Midwest Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Walsh swept the individual awards with Zach Kreft as the Runner of the Year and Evan Jarold being named the Freshman of the Year.
 
Kreft, a University of Notre Dame transfer, has dominated all season long. He finished first overall and registered a 24:05.0 time. Evan Jarold earned a 10^th place finish in his first collegiate conference championship. Jarold placed first among all freshman.
 
Nathan Moore joins Jarold and Kreft as First-Team selections. He finished the third overall with a 24:26.8 time. The Cavaliers had a handful of runners earn Second-Team honors to secure their fifth consecutive title. Walsh is ranked No. 12 in the national coaches poll and No. 2 in the Midwest Region.
 
In their first ever Great Midwest Cross Country Championship, the Northwood Timberwolves earned a second place finish. Dillan Haviland and Zane Aldrich were among the top 10 and helped Northwood clock a team time of 2:06:21. Haviland placed fourth overall and Aldrich finished in ninth. Both athletes earned First-Team honors.
 
Northwood is ranked No. 28 at the national level and No. 6 in the Midwest Region.
 
Noah Fisher of Findlay finished second overall with a 24:15.1 time. Fisher along with teammate Jordan Foster are both First-Team All-Conference members.
 
The Cedarville Yellow Jackets earned a third place finish with a team time of 2:06.52. Senior Evan Leist led the pack as he finished fifth and was selected First-Team All-Conference. The Yellow Jackets round out the Great Midwest teams in the Midwet Regional Rankings at No. 10.
 
Hillsdale finished fourth followed by Tiffin to round out the top 5. The Charger’s were led by Mark Sprague, who finished eighth . Tiffin’s Nathanial Ondracek placed seventh with a time of 25:01.4.
 
The sport’s Elite 26 Award winner was Malone’s Noah Blaz. The sophomore is a Data Analytics and Sports Management major with a 4.0 GPA. The Elite 26 Award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete at the conference championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or peers. 
 
Teams will now start preparation for the NCAA Midwest Regional in Kenosha, WI. Regionals are set to take place on Nov. 19 with the National Championship on Dec. 2 in University Place, WA.