Men's Cross Country | 9/8/2026 4:00:00 PM
Week 1 PAC Honors (for events between August 31-Sept. 6)
The weekly award winners have been recognized for their performances during Week 1 of the 2026 season.
PAC Runner of the Week
Cooper Valancius • Franciscan • Freshman • Perry Hall, Md./Homeschooled
Valancius was first overall for his team and placed 22nd overall at the Wright State Mike Baumer XC Classic with a 5K time of 16:01.2 ... The Barons placed fifth overall out of nine teams, finishing behind Division I Ohio State and Wright State and Division II Ashland ... Valancius was second among Division III runners and the fourth fastest freshman in the competitive field.
PAC Honor Roll
Allegheny sophomore Tyler Biss (Beaver, Pa./Beaver); Geneva sophomore Matt Otto (Mars, Pa./Eden Christian); Grove City sophomore Colsen Frank (Grove City, Pa./Grove City); Saint Francis junior Collin Dreese (New Berlin, Pa./Mifflinburg); Thiel junior Cooper Riley (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown); Waynesburg junior Ethan Wilson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Redeemer Lutheran); Westminster sophomore Nick Bender (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock)
PAC Newcomer of the Week
Tyler Caron • Geneva • Freshman • Salix, Pa./Forest Hills
In his first collegiate race, Caron ran very well at the Westminster Fisher Invite, finishing fifth overall with a time of 16:44.93 in the 5K race ... He was the first freshman to cross the finish line and helped Geneva finish first as a team.
PAC Newcomers Honor Roll
Geneva freshman Tyler Caron (Salix, Pa./Forest Hills); Grove City freshman Carson Witt (North Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown); Waynesburg freshman Kyin Jeter (Braddock, Pa./Carrick);
PAC Records & Milestones
Allegheny's Tyler Biss placed 12th out of 85 while competing against all Division II runners at Edinboro's Doug Watts Open with a 6K time of 20:34.9 ... Matt Otto led Geneva to a first-place team finish at the Westminster Fisher Invite on Friday evening, crossing second overall in the 5K race with a time of 16:20.35 ... Grove City's Colsen Frank won the Westminster Fisher Invitational Friday night by finishing the 5,000-meter course in a victorious time of 16:16.0 seconds, which helped Grove City take second in the team standings ... Saint Francis' Collin Dreese finished in second place at SFU's home Fr. Bede Invitational, running the 6k event in 19:26.3.