GENEVA, Ill. (naccsports.org) --- St. Norbert College landed eight runners in the top 15 to capture the women's team title in dominating fashion at the 2026 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Cross Country Championships at Settler's Hill Cross Country Course.
The Green Knights scored 25 points, matching the championship scoring record set by Aurora University in 2014. The Spartans had two top-15 runners, including the individual champion, and finished second with 66 points, just ahead of Wisconsin Lutheran College (78) and Concordia University Wisconsin (99). Milwaukee School of Engineering (125), Rockford University (155), and Concordia University Chicago (196) rounded out the complete teams. Benedictince University, Dominican University, Edgewood University, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Marian University had competitors at this year's championships, but did not record a team score.
Aurora's Susana Martinez was a wire-to-wire winner in the pursuit of the individual crown. She led led by four seconds after 1.1 kilometers, then extended the advantage to 26 seconds at the 3.3-kilometer split and 1:04 at the 5.5-kilometer sprint, then tacked on four more seconds over the final 500 meters to stop the clock in 22:41.6 - 67.8 seconds clear of the field.
St. Norbert took four of the next five spots as Kayla Wesaw (23:49.4) took second, Brianna Sheahan (23:52.0) was third, Madelyn Wilmas (24:12.1) was fifth, and Kera Riley (24:18.5) was sixth. Aurora's Emma Jasutis was the only interloper in the block, placing fourth (24:03.0).
MSOE's Martinez Hernandez Named NACC Freshman of the Year
MSOE's Karen Martinez Hernandez (24:24.5) came home seventh overall and - as the low true freshman in the meet - was named the NACC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year. This is the first NACC major award in women's cross country for MSOE.
St. Norbert Named Coaching Staff of the Year
After the meet, the league's coaches recognized St. Norbert College as the NACC Women's Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year. Under the direction of third-year head coach Corey Bins, the Green Knights picked up their third NACC women's title in six years and matched the championship scoring mark.
Bins is assisted by
Lydia Ulrich,
Taylor Pasterski,
Robert Bins,
Jonah DeCleene, and
Olivia Ship.
All-Conference Recognized
The top 15 finishers at the champions were recognized as All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference runners. St. Norbert secured eight of the 15 honors, while Aurora and Wisconsin Lutheran had two apiece. Concordia Wisconsin, MSOE, and Rockford rounded out the list with one honoree each.
Saturday's meet marks the conclusion of the regular season for most NACC programs. A handful of programs are currently slated to send runners to meets at North Central (Ill.) (Aurora, Benedictine) and UW-Oshkosh (Marian, St. Norbert), the focus for most programs now shifts to NCAA regional meets slated for Saturday, Nov. 14. The six Illinois-based NACC programs will compete in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Illinois, while the six Wisconsin-based NACC programs will compete in the NCAA Division III North Regional at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.
The 2026 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships are slated for Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Bill Huyck Championship Cross Country Course on the campus of Carleton College, also in Northfield, Minnesota.
NACC Cross Country Championships
October 31, 2026
Women's 6K
Place Score Bib No Name Team Time Pace Grade
1 1 3475 Susana Martinez Aurora 22:41.60 3:47/K SO
2 2 3868 Kayla Wesaw St. Norbert 23:49.40 3:58/K SO
3 3 3864 Brianna Sheahan St. Norbert 23:52.00 3:59/K SO
4 4 3473 Emma Jasutis Aurora 24:03.00 4:00/K SR
5 5 3869 Madelyn Wilmas St. Norbert 24:12.10 4:02/K SO
6 6 3862 Kera Riley St. Norbert 24:18.50 4:03/K SR
7 7 3831 Karen Martinez HernandMSOE 24:24.50 4:04/K FR
8 8 3883 Kirstin Neuwirth Wisconsin Lutheran 24:28.80 4:05/K SO
9 9 3846 Jada Baer St. Norbert 24:34.00 4:06/K FR
10 10 3842 Brianna Torres Rockford 24:38.10 4:06/K SR
11 11 3493 Abigail Poehlman Concordia (Wis.) 24:40.90 4:07/K SR
12 12 3852 Anna Fitzgerald St. Norbert 24:45.90 4:08/K SR
13 13 3882 Maddie Metz Wisconsin Lutheran 24:47.30 4:08/K SO
14 14 3858 Mollie Madsen St. Norbert 24:51.70 4:09/K SO
15 (> 7) 3845 Luisa Arcuri St. Norbert 24:52.90 4:09/K SO