CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Cross Country teams competed in week five of the 2026 season.
 
Around the League:
HCAC Cross Country Schedule
 
Athletes of the Week: 
Men’s Athlete of the Week:
Austin Johnson (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Manchester University | Junior - Austin Johnson ran a lifetime PR of 24:48, finishing 30th at the Augustana meet over the weekend. He was the third best Great Lakes Regional Athlete in the field. His time was also fourth best in Manchester history.

Women’s Athlete of the Week:
Jocelyn Onstot (Cary, Ill.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Senior - Jocelyn Onstot broke a 13-year-old Rose-Hulman school record in the 6K at the Augustana Interregional Invitational. She recorded a time of 21:43.2 to finish 20th overall.

Notable Performances:
Men's:

• Johnnie Behrends (Normal, Ill.) Anderson University | Sophomore - Johnnie Behrends had an 8K lifetime best at the JennaStrong Fall Classic, earning 27th place at 27:00 in rainy conditions.
• Desire Itwitaho (Louisville, Ky.) Berea College | Sophomore - Desire Itwitaho led the Berea men to a ninth place team finish in a time of 26:41.3 in the 8K at the Maryville Invitational. Itwitaho trounced his previous 8K personal best of 27:11.7 on the way to the tenth place individual finish.
• Kole Steele (Reno, Nev.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Freshman - Kole Steele recorded a 103rd place finish with an 8K time of 25:39.7 at the Augustana Interregional Invitational.

Women's:

• Jade Witt (Mishawaka, Ind.) Anderson University | Sophomore - Jade pushed to 40-second PRs over her last two races and ran sub-23 in the 5K for the first time in her life.
• Gwenizah Barcinas (Merizo, Guam) Berea College | Freshman - Gwenizah Barcinas continued her strong freshman campaign, finishing as the top Berea runner with a time of 26:21.4 in her first ever 6K.
• Kaylee Kinser (Charlestown, Ind.) Hanover College | Junior - In her first full race effort of the season, Kaylee Kinser finished second overall and was the first collegiate finisher at the JennaStrong Fall Classic. Kinser ran 19:05 in the 5K race on a very wet and muddy course.
• Chesnee Miller (Akron, Ind.) Manchester University | Junior - Chesnee Miller ran a 20-second lifetime PR of 21:54. It was her first time under 22 minutes in the 6K. She was the fifth best Great Lakes Region athlete in the field and her time is the third best in Manchester history.

2026 Athlete of the Week Reports:
Week 1 (Week ending Sept. 6)
Week 2 (Week ending Sept. 13)
Week 3 (Week ending Sept. 20)
Week 4 (Week ending Oct. 4)
Week 5 (Week ending Oct. 18)