CARMEL, Ind. – The 2026 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Manchester University Cross Country Course in North Manchester, Ind.

2026 HCAC Men’s and Women's Cross Country Championship Page

The women’s 6K race will take place first with the gun scheduled to go off at noon. The men’s 8K will follow at 1 p.m.

In the women’s race, defending champion Manchester was picked to lead the field in the conference's preseason poll. At last year’s event the Spartans scored 55 points led by Runner of the Year Chesnee Miller who returns this year.

Other competitors for the top spot include Rose-Hulman’s Jocelyn Onstot.

For the men, Rose-Hulman looks to top the field for the third year in a row. They were selected first in the preseason poll at the beginning of the year after claiming the 2025 title. The Fightin’ Engineers scored 25 points at last year’s meet with all scorers and then some earning All-Conference honors.

Their top returning runner for last year’s championship is Chris Lynn who placed fifth in 2025. Freshman Grayson Rorick has also had a fantastic first collegiate season.

Manchester’s Austin Johnson and Franklin’s William Hirsch look to be in contention for the top spot who have both won weekly honors this year.

Admission to all HCAC Championships is $10. Children aged 11 and under and students/faculty and staff with an HCAC institution ID will be admitted for free.

For more information on HCAC Cross Country, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.