The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) men’s cross country team asserted its dominance on the regional stage this Saturday, securing the 2026 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship on its home course in Ewing, New Jersey. In a performance defined by depth and tactical precision, the Lions placed five runners within the top seven finishers to claim the title with a commanding score of 22 points.
A Clinical Performance in Ewing
The championship saw sophomore Joshua Santiago lead the charge for TCNJ, capturing the individual title in the 8K race with a time of 24:37.9. Santiago’s performance was notably decisive, finishing 23.2 seconds ahead of the runner-up, New Paltz senior Luca Maneri, who crossed the line in 25:01.1. This gap between the winner and the rest of the field showed the intensity of the competition, as the remaining TCNJ pack effectively neutralized challenges from conference rivals.
Following Santiago, the Lions’ scoring contingent demonstrated remarkable consistency. Junior Phil Pace secured third place with a time of 25:12.1, while rookie Will Nelson finished fifth in 25:36.2, marking him as the top freshman in the race. Sophomores and seniors rounded out the scoring, with Simon Bernhardt (25:37.6) and Sean Haggerty (25:40.5) claiming sixth and seventh, respectively. By placing all seven of their runners in the top 17, TCNJ established a statistical cushion that few programs in the conference could match.
The Competitive Landscape of the NJAC
Rowan University finished second in the team standings with 49 points. While TCNJ relied on individual dominance at the front, the Profs utilized a tight pack strategy. Aidan Brad led Rowan in fourth place with a time of 25:27.4. The team’s efficiency was evident in their spread; from their first to fifth runner, there was only a 40.3-second gap, illustrating a cohesive effort that kept them firmly in contention throughout the morning.
The battle for third place proved to be the day’s closest contest. Stockton University edged out Ramapo College by a single point, 101 to 102. Stockton’s freshman standout James Clauson led the Ospreys with a 13th-place finish, while Ramapo’s Brian Metz crossed just ahead in 12th. New Paltz followed in fifth with 108 points, anchored by Maneri’s impressive individual runner-up effort.
TCNJ Secures First Place Finish
| Place | Institution | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TCNJ | 22 |
| 2 | Rowan | 49 |
| 3 | Stockton | 101 |
| 4 | Ramapo | 102 |
| 5 | New Paltz | 108 |
| 6 | Rutgers-Camden | 202 |
| 7 | Kean | 206 |
| 8 | Rutgers-Newark | 237 |
Broader Implications for Regional Athletics
The lower half of the leaderboard highlighted the ongoing development of programs within the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden finished sixth with 202 points, narrowly defeating Kean University by four points. The race saw various runners stepping up as program leaders, including freshman Curtis Stokes for Rutgers-Camden and junior Angel Alarcon for Kean. Meanwhile, Rutgers-Newark completed the field, with junior Carlos Gonzales Delgado pacing the team.
For the student-athletes involved, the NJAC Championship serves as a critical benchmark in the cross country season. The divergence in team scoring—between TCNJ’s front-running strategy and Rowan’s pack-based approach—reflects the varying philosophies employed by regional coaching staffs. As these teams look toward the remainder of the season, the data from the Ewing course provides a clear look at current form and program trajectory.
The 2026 championship results, as reported by the New Jersey Athletic Conference, confirm that TCNJ remains the program to beat. With a strong mix of veteran leadership and freshman talent, the Lions have set a high bar for the conference as the postseason approaches.
