LEBANON, Pa. – Gallaudet University sophomore Sevan Ikeda (Fremont, Calif.) successfully defended his individual title at the 2026 United East Conference Men's Cross Country Championships on Saturday as the Bison placed fifth overall at Union Canal Tunnel Park.

Ikeda became a two-time United East individual champion after winning the 8-kilometer race in 25 minutes, 14 seconds, finishing first among 81 runners. His time is the fourth fastest in GU school history. The defending champion continued his dominance at the conference championship meet and earned his second consecutive United East Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year honor.

The Fremont, Calif., native improved his time by more than 41 seconds from the Dutchmen Invitational on Sept. 5, when he completed the same course in 25:56. Ikeda's victory capped another impressive conference campaign for the Bison sophomore, who has now won the individual championship in each of his first two collegiate seasons.

First year Dylan Olmos (San Jose, Calif.) joined Ikeda on the All-Conference First Team after turning in an impressive sixth-place finish. Olmos crossed the finish line in 26:49, improving his previous time on the same course by nearly a minute and a half. The rookie's performance gave Gallaudet two runners among the top six finishers at the conference championship.

Senior Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.) was the third Bison runner to cross the finish line, placing 37th overall with a time of 30:11. First year Kai Huot (St. Augustine, Fla.) followed in 46th place with a time of 31:02, while sophomore Joe Bryan (Liberty, Mo.) rounded out Gallaudet's five finishers in 67th place with a time of 35:58.

Gallaudet finished fifth overall out of nine scoring teams with 134 points. Penn St.-Berks captured the United East team championship with 50 points, followed by St. Mary's College of Maryland in second place (65 points) and Lancaster Bible College in third (96 points). Penn College placed fourth with 108 points, just ahead of the Bison.

Lancaster Bible College junior David Helms finished second overall in 25:26, just 12 seconds behind Ikeda, while Penn St.-Abington sophomore Mason Kaminski placed third in 26:13, nearly a minute behind the Gallaudet champion.

Penn St.-Berks first year Adrian Maldonado edged out Olmos for United East Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year honors after finishing fifth overall in 26:35, just one spot and 14 seconds ahead of Olmos (26:49). Nittany Lions head coach Ryan Foster earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding Penn St.-Berks to its second consecutive conference championship.

The fifth-place finish marked a strong showing for Gallaudet, which entered the season ranked eighth in the United East preseason coaches poll. The Bison also placed two runners on the All-Conference First Team, led by Ikeda's repeat individual championship and Olmos' sixth-place performance.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet is slated to travel to Earlysville, Va., for the NCAA Division III South Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Panorama Farms. The Bison previously competed on the course at the South Region Preview on Sept. 19. A start time has yet to be announced.