CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Cross Country teams competed in week three of the 2026 season.
 
Around the League:
HCAC Cross Country Schedule
 
Athletes of the Week: 
Men’s Athlete of the Week:
Jacob Miller (Salem, Ind.) Hanover College | Junior - Jacob Miller ran an 8K lifetime-best of 27:01 to finish 13th overall. He was also the first DIII finisher at the Crimson Pride Invitational on Friday evening. Miller's time was a 35 second improvement from his previous best at the end of last season.

Women’s Athlete of the Week:
Jocelyn Onstot (Cary, Ill.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Senior - Jocelyn Onstot recorded a time of 22:39.1 in the 6K, finishing 156th place in a field of primarily all Division I athletes.

Notable Performances:
Men's:

• Desire Itwitaho (Louisville, Ky.) Berea College | Sophomore - Desire Itwitaho ran a personal best and took home seventh place at the Mike and Mary Kay Johnson Classic. He ran a time of 28:04, finishing nearly 90 seconds ahead of his previous best time. Itwitaho led the Mountaineers as the top finisher.
• John Gries (Greenwood, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Senior - John Gries recorded an 8K time of 27:10.9 at the John McNichols Invitational, finishing in 223rd place in a field of primarily all Division I opponents.

Women's:

• Gwenizah Barcinas (Merizo, Guam) Berea College | Freshman - Gwenizah Barcinas finished as the sixth-fastest freshman in the field and fastest Berea runner at the Mike and Mary Kay Johnson Classic. She placed 19th overall in the 5K with a time of 21:56, which is one second off of her personal best.
• Sara Smith (Mansfield, Ohio) Bluffton University | Junior - Sara Smith finished 67th out of 364 including 24th out of the DIII competitors at the All-Ohio Classic, which featured schools from all divisions. Her time of 24:11 was nearly a minute faster than her time last year on the same course as well as improved her placement by 61 spots overall and 29 spots among DIII.
• Madelyn Kitchens (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hanover College | Freshman - Madelyn Kitchens ran a season-best time of 20:44 to finish 17th overall and was the first DIII finisher at the Crimson Pride Invitational on Friday evening. Kitchens' time was a 1:19 improvement from her time on the same course two weeks ago.

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