INDIANAPOLIS — Men’s and women’s cross country programs across the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) open the 2026 season this September, launching a high-stakes fall campaign featured at both the regional and national levels.
Action kicks off early in the month as squads use opening-weekend invitationals to test line depth and establish early-season pacing. Key early stops include the Tommy Evans Invitational (Sept. 4), the Beaver Dam Invitational (Sept. 4), and the Mel Brodt Collegiate Invitational (Sept. 4).
The slate intensifies mid-month as conference programs converge for prominent regional showcases, highlighted by the annual All-Ohio Intercollegiate Classic on Friday, September 18, hosted at Cedarville’s Elvin R. King Cross Country Course, followed by a preview of the conference championship venue at Tiffin’s Tiffelberg Open Invitational at Hedges-Boyer Park (Sept. 25). These early September clashes serve as vital testing grounds before programs transition into major mid-season national crossovers.
Men’s Division Overview
In the men's division, the Walsh Cavaliers enter the fall as defending conference champions, looking to maintain their spot atop the league against deep rosters from Hillsdale, Findlay, Ashland, and host Tiffin.
Walsh brings back key veteran leadership to pace its title defense, anchored by All-Conference runner Theo Papas. The conference will also keep a close eye on rising sophomore David D'Altorio, the returning G-MAC Freshman of the Year, who looks to build on his standout debut season. Ashland features strong varsity continuity with key returners Wes Taylor and Braeden Geist pacing the Eagles' lineup. Meanwhile, host Tiffin will rely on returning standout Isaac Houghton to anchor the front pack as the Dragons retool following the graduation of postseason stars Ramon Rodriguez and Louis Ginane.
Top individual contenders to watch across the league include:
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Theo Papas (Walsh): Returning upperclass leader anchoring Walsh’s championship title defense.
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David D'Altorio (Walsh): Returning G-MAC Freshman of the Year aiming to build on a decorated rookie campaign.
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Wes Taylor & Braeden Geist (Ashland): Experienced scoring duo powering the Eagles' front-running pack.
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Isaac Houghton (Tiffin): Core returning scorer leading the Dragons' lineup on their home course.
Women’s Division Overview
On the women’s side, the Cedarville Yellow Jackets enter 2026 riding high from a standout campaign that saw them capture another conference title and match a program-best 7th-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship.
To stay atop the G-MAC and national stages, Cedarville will need to replace a decorated senior class anchored by All-American Emily Walsh along with core scoring stalwarts Corinne Lynch, Aubrey Hayes, and Savannah Golding. The Yellow Jackets will rely on a new-look scoring group to hold off fierce team challenges from Walsh, Hillsdale, and Findlay.
Notable individual returners challenging at the front of the pack include:
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Claire Rethman (Walsh): DII All-American who finished 3rd overall at Nationals, pacing the Cavaliers' podium push.
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Allison Kuzma (Hillsdale): Primary low-stick runner and G-MAC Female Athlete of the Year leading the Chargers' front group.
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Lauren Sattler & Olivia Fenbert (Findlay): Proven upperclass duo returning to anchor the Oilers' varsity lineup.
Road to the Championship
All early-season competition builds toward the postseason push leading into the 2026 Great Midwest Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, hosted by Tiffin University at Hedges-Boyer Park in Tiffin, Ohio, on Saturday, November 7.
The championship slate opens with the 15th annual men’s 8,000-meter race at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by the 15th annual women’s 6,000-meter race at 11:30 a.m. ET. Following the conference meet, qualifying G-MAC teams will advance to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship on November 21 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, aiming to punch tickets to the NCAA Division II National Championships on December 4 in Lawrence, Kansas.