WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University men's cross country team enters the 2026 season with a defending conference champion, increased numbers and new leadership ready to guide the Bison this fall.
Associate Head Coach Nykol Pratt begins her expanded role leading the men's and women's cross country programs this fall. The former Gallaudet cross country and track and field student-athlete enters her fourth season on the Bison coaching staff and will guide a young men's squad that features eight runners.
Sophomore Sevan Ikeda (Fremont, Calif.) headlines the group after a stellar rookie campaign where he won the 2025 United East Conference individual championship and was named the conference's Runner of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Ikeda, who has been named a team captain this season, will be joined by a promising group of newcomers that includes first-year runner Dylan Olmos (San Jose, Calif.).
The increased numbers provide the Bison with an opportunity to build depth and consistently post a team score throughout the 2026 season after GU struggled with roster numbers a year ago. Five first-year runners join three returners on this year's roster.
Gallaudet was picked eighth in the 2026 United East Conference preseason coaches poll.
Below is a breakdown of the 2026 Gallaudet men's cross country team.
2025 Review
United East Championship: 9th place
Highlights: Ikeda won the 2025 United East championship with an 8K time of 27 minutes, 23.21 seconds to earn United East Runner of the Year, Rookie of the Year and first team All-Conference honors. He became the first Gallaudet men's runner since
Otto Kingstedt in 2015 to earn all three honors in the same season. The Bison also earned the program's first United East Team Academic Award after posting a 3.38 team grade point average (GPA) during the 2025-26 academic year.
TOP RETURNERS
Sevan Ikeda (Fremont, Calif.), So.
Ikeda returns as the defending United East Conference champion after an impressive rookie season. He won the 2025 conference championship in 27:23.21 to earn United East Runner of the Year, Rookie of the Year and first team All-Conference honors. Ikeda made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut when he ran 25:29.20 at the Salisbury University Fall Classic, the fourth-fastest 8K time in program history. He added two more Top 10 program times during the season and currently owns three of the 10 fastest 8K performances in Gallaudet history. Ikeda was also a four-time United East Runner of the Week and has been named a team captain for the 2026 season.
Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.), Sr.
Holcomb provides veteran leadership to a young Bison squad as the lone senior on the 2026 roster. A multi-sport student-athlete at Gallaudet, Holcomb returns to the cross country program and gives the Bison another experienced runner as they look to build depth this fall.
Joe Bryan (Liberty, Mo.), So.
Bryan returns for his second season with the cross country program after joining the team late last fall. The Gallaudet men's soccer student-athlete made his cross country debut at the 2025 United East championship and finished third among the Bison runners with an 8K time of 38:55.
IMPACT ADDITIONS
Dylan Olmos (San Jose, Calif.), Fy.
Olmos arrives at Gallaudet after a strong high school running career at Leigh High School in San Jose. He posted personal-best times of 16:42 in the 5K, 10:21.66 in the 3,200-meter run and 4:46.81 in the 1,600. Olmos gives the Bison another talented distance runner to pair with defending United East champion Ikeda at the front of the lineup. He has the potential to make an immediate impact at the conference level and contend for United East Rookie of the Year honors.
QUOTING COACH
"We have a young, but strong team this year. With four new freshmen, I'm excited for what this group will accomplish. Keep your eyes out for the Bison." –
Nykol Pratt, Gallaudet University cross country associate head coach.
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
- Season Opener: at Dutchmen Invitational (Sat., Sept. 5, 11 a.m.)
- NCAA South Regional Course Preview: at South Region Preview (Sat., Sept. 19, 10 a.m.)
- Regular-Season Finale: at Roanoke XC Invitational/South Region Showdown (Sat., Oct. 17, 11 a.m.)
- United East Championship: hosted by Penn St.-Berks (Sat., Oct. 31, 11 a.m.)
- NCAA South Regional: hosted by University of Lynchburg (Sat., Nov. 14, TBA)
Gallaudet will compete in five regular-season meets before the United East Conference championship at the end of October.
The Bison open the season in Lebanon, Pa., at the Dutchmen Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 5, hosted by Lebanon Valley College. The season-opening meet will give Gallaudet an early look at Union Canal Tunnel Park, the same course where the United East championship will be held on Oct. 31.
GU returns to action six days later at the SU Twilight Open (Sept. 11) hosted by Shenandoah University at Kernstown Battlefield in Winchester, Va. The Bison then travel to Earlysville, Va., for the South Region Preview (Sept. 19), hosted by the University of Lynchburg at Panorama Farms. The meet gives Gallaudet an opportunity to compete on the same course scheduled to host the NCAA Division III South Regional in November.
After a two-week break, the buff and blue travel to Salisbury, Md., for the Don Cathcart Invitational (Oct. 3) at WinterPlace Park. Gallaudet concludes the regular season two weeks later at the Roanoke XC Invitational/South Region Showdown (Oct. 17) at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va.
The Bison will have two weeks to prepare for the 2026 United East Conference Championship on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Union Canal Tunnel Park in Lebanon, Pa. Penn St.-Berks will serve as the championship host.
The NCAA Division III South Regional is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va., hosted by the University of Lynchburg.
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