STONY BROOK, N.Y. (Oct. 25, 2026) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's cross country team won its eighth consecutive Skyline Conference Championship and 15th overall on Sunday morning at the 2026 Skyline Conference Men's Cross Country Championship, hosted by St. Joseph's-Long Island at Stony Brook University. The Mariners finished first out of nine teams with a team score of 32 points, 36 points ahead of runner-up Farmingdale State (68 points), while rival SUNY Maritime finished third with 78 points.
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The Blue and Gray posted four top-10 finishes and boasted five All-Skyline performers, including three First Team selections with top-seven finishes and two Second Team selections who placed eighth through 14th.
Seventh-year head coach Kayla Koelbel was selected by her fellow conference coaches as the 2026 Skyline Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Sophomore Caden Davis (Katy, Texas) spearheaded the strong effort for the Blue and Gray, crossing the finish line in second place with a time of 27:25.0. Senior Pierce Murray (Meridian, Idaho) followed in third place with a time of 27:45.6, and sophomore Cooper Johnson (Honolulu, Hawaii) finished fourth with a time of 28:09.8. With top-seven finishes on the day, Davis, Murray, and Johnson all earned First Team All-Skyline Conference honors.
Freshman Steven Kirschner (Rudyard, Mich.) came across with a 10th-place finish in 29:03.4, while sophomore Enois Maceira (Monroe Township, N.J.) finished 13th with a time of 29:17.5. Both runners earned Second Team All-Skyline Conference honors.
Sophomore Chase Pavlow (Holland, Pa.) put up a 15th-place finish with a personal-best time of 29:28.1, and senior Ben Anastasoff (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) rounded out the Mariners' top seven finishers in 17th place with a time of 29:31.0.
The Mariners lace it up again on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the ECAC Division III North Championship Meet. Official start times for the ECAC Championships will be announced closer to the event. Stay logged on to www.USMMASports.com and our social media pages (links below) for more information as the date draws near.
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