INDIANAPOLIS—The 2024 men’s and women’s cross country seasons are set to begin, with several programs featured at the regional and national level.
 
This year, Hillsdale’s Hayden Park will be he host site for the competing men’s and women’s student-athletes in the 2024 Great Midwest Championships. The conference meets will be on Saturday, October 26, to kick off championship season.
 
The 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional will be held in Romeoville, Ill. before the NCAA Championships scheduled to take place in Sacramento, Calif.
 
Walsh’s men have established themselves as a powerhouse program, winning six of the last seven Great Midwest titles. Head coach Rob Mizicko also has the Cavaliers ranked in the national poll at No. 24. Walsh returns a trio of all-conference selections in Noah Graham, Mitchel Dunham, and Xavier Foehl. Graham was the top finisher from Walsh at last year’s championship, clocking a time of 25:15 to finish fifth overall. Walsh is the lone G-MAC school in the national ranking, but is joined by Findlay and Cedarville in the regional rankings.
 
Findlay finished 7^th at the conference meet last season and return 2023 Runner of the Year Noah Fisher. Fisher was the top individual finisher at the championship last season with an 8K time of 24:41.
 
Cedarville slid into the regional rankings at No. 6. The Yellow Jackets earned a third place team finish at last year’s championship.
 
On the women’s side, Cedarville will look to win their fourth straight conference title. The Yellow Jackets are slotted at No. 13 in the national poll and return 2023 Freshman of the Year Abby Drosdak as well as all-conference runner Savannah Ackley. Ackley finished third overall at the conference meet last season, with a 6K time of 22.10.1. Drosdak clocked a time of 22.44.8. at her first conference championship . Head coach Jeff Bolendar led the Yellow Jackets to a 10^th place team finish at the 2023 national meet and will aim to make another run in Sacramento this season.
 
Walsh and Findlay join Cedarville in the regional rankings at No. 5 and 6, respectively.
 
For the Cavaliers, Camryn Barker is the top returner after finishing in the top 10 and receiving all-conference honors. Walsh is also receiving votes in the national poll.
 
Findlay’s Ava Beam finished 11^th at the conference meet last season. She is joined by Hailey Wilson and Sarah Reinhart as second team all-conference returners.
 
The 2024 cross country season will open this weekend as teams travel to their respective meets.