Fall Preview: Men’s Cross Country

8/31/2026 2:06:00 PM | By: Jamie Dailey '22, SID Assistant

Men's Cross Country Set To Begin 2026 Season This Tuesday, September 1st At Case Western Reserve University

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH – The fall is upon us and the men's cross country team will head into 2026 with high expectations and aspirations.

In 2025, the group captured the NCAC Championship with a total score of 24 points, which broke the program scoring record at a conference championship meet.

The Blue Streaks would run to a third place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships, 4 men were named all-region including NCAA individual qualifier Sam Su.

Going into 2026, the men will return six of their top seven runners while bringing in a solid class of 10 freshmen signees.

"Every year begins with excitement and this year is no different," emphasized Coach Daniel Tutskey, the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at John Carroll University. "I believe we have a good mix of talented young athletes who can contribute right away and upperclassmen who can provide a solid foundation of leadership."

Top returners for the Blue Streaks include defending NCAC Runner of the Year, Nate Julien. Julien was the individual champion at the NCAC Championships with a time of 25:20.3 to earn a new personal best at the 8k. Sam Su will be another top returner for the Blue Streaks. Su qualified for NCAA championships individually in 2025 and placed 128th. The junior had a stellar sophomore track and field campaign, becoming the NCAA National Runner-Up in the 1500 meter run with a time of 3:45.44. He will look to replicate that success on the grass.

Phil Coury is another senior who came on towards the end of the season last year. The St. Edward graduate was JCU's third runner to cross the finish line at regionals and became an All-Conference runner throughout the postseason.

Juniors Joey Naiman, Chuck Reigrut, and Charles Payne all return for JCU, earning All-Conference accolades last year with Payne earning NCAC Newcomer Runner of the Year honors. This trio has provided a lot of depth for the group and will look to continue their trajectory.

A total of ten first-years have joined the program this fall and bring a lot of championship and all-state experience from high school that can boost the competitiveness for the overall group.

Two athletes to keep an eye out on will be Joey Cappuzzello (McDonald High School) and Chase Daniel (Dover High School). Both have dipped under 16 minutes in the 5k, as well as sub 9:30 in the two mile. Christopher Bohm (St. Edward) is another first-year that can make some noise on the course as he was named All-Ohio at the State Championships last fall.

Some of the biggest meets on the schedule for the Blue & Gold this year include the Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh University, where the team will compete against some of the top programs in Division III, the Mike Woods Invitational on the campus of SUNY Geneseo, and the Spartan Invite at Michigan State University, a course that the team has become quite familiar with in the past.

"Currently, it's all about stacking days of quality training and building towards the Fall," says Tutskey. "It's exciting to watch the team gel as the season progresses."

In the recent USTFCCCA Preseason rankings, the men are ranked third in the Great Lakes Region behind Hope College and Rose-Hulman.

The men will open up the 2026 season this Tuesday, September 1st at the Bill Sudeck Invitational in a dual meet against Case Western Reserve University. This will take place at the Squire Valleevue Farm in Hunting Valley, Ohio. The men's 6k race will start at 6:15pm.

Meet information and live results will be posted on meet day.

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