Spartans Defend Home Turf as Manchester Claims Back-to-Back HCAC Cross Country Titles
North Manchester played host to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships, where the Manchester women’s squad secured a dominant first-place finish with 27 points and a total team time of 1:52:47.00. Hanover followed far behind in second place with 76 points, unable to match the depth of a Manchester roster that placed four runners inside the top six.
The victory marks back-to-back HCAC Women’s Cross Country Championships for Manchester, following their title run in 2025. Chesnee Miller set the pace for the hosts by finishing second overall with a time of 21:50.70. Ava Egolf crossed in fourth at 22:23.60, Ayla Cashdollar took fifth in 22:28.90, and Chloe Stalhood rounded out the top group in sixth with a 22:50.50 mark. Kadence Fox secured 10th place in 23:13.30, capping off a winning team average of 22:33.40.
Manchester Athletes Earn Conference Honors as Men Finish Second
Individual honors followed the team success. Miller, Egolf, Cashdollar, Stalhood, Fox, Addison Sterk, and freshman Annika Retana earned HCAC All-Conference recognition. Retana was named HCAC Newcomer of the Year, while Brian Cashdollar earned HCAC Women’s Coach of the Year honors.
Champions! @muxctf Women's Cross Country earns the 2026 HCAC crown.Austin Johnshon finished first in the men's race, earning Runner of the Year. Freshman Annika Retana earns Newcomer of the Year, and Coach Cashdollar earns Women's Coach of the Year.#MUSpartans | #SpartanPride pic.twitter.com/wKekVjFswG
On the men’s side, Manchester hosted the nine-team championship and finished second with 47 points, trailing Rose-Hulman’s winning total of 31 points. The Manchester men posted a total time of 2:09:48.20 and a 25:57.64 team average over the 8K course.
Austin Johnson led the men’s field by winning the 8K race in 24:57.70, earning HCAC Runner of the Year honors. Darius Osborn finished second right behind him at 25:36.30. Jonah Miller added an eighth-place finish in 25:54.10, Charlie Baker took 15th in 26:17.40, and Rony Hernandez finished 32nd in 27:02.70. Johnson, Osborn, and Miller were named HCAC All-Conference, while Baker earned HCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Looking Ahead to Regionals
With the conference championships concluded, attention turns toward the postseason. Manchester will travel to the Great Lakes Regional scheduled at Forrest Acres East GC, MI, on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m.
