LEBANON, Pa. – Penn State Berks captured its second consecutive United East Conference Men's Cross Country Championship on Saturday afternoon at Union Canal Tunnel Park in Lebanon, Pa. The Nittany Lions totaled 50 points to secure the conference crown, finishing 15 points ahead of runner-up St. Mary's College of Maryland.

Penn State Berks placed three runners among the top eight finishers and five among the top 21 to secure the team championship. Sophomore Samuel Branford led the Nittany Lions with a fourth-place finish, completing the 8K course in 26:27.5. Freshman Adrian Maldonado followed closely behind in fifth place with a time of 26:35.5, while junior Trent Jordan finished eighth overall in 26:55.1.
Junior Cristian Corona-Olivares added a 12th-place finish in 27:45.4, while freshman Matteo Antonucci rounded out Berks' five scoring runners with a 21st-place finish in 28:10.5.

St. Mary's College of Maryland finished second overall with 65 points, led by sophomore Brandon Smoot, who placed ninth in 27:02.7. Freshman Connor Walsh followed in 10th place with a time of 27:09.8, while junior Pierson Hogue (13th, 27:52.3), freshman Reylouson Vilmenay (14th, 27:56.2), and freshman Simon McGillivray (19th, 28:07.6) completed the Seahawks' five scoring runners.
Lancaster Bible College rounded out the top three with 96 points, led by junior David Helms, who finished second overall with a time of 25:26.0.

Gallaudet University sophomore Sevan Ikeda captured his second consecutive United East Men's Cross Country individual championship, completing the 8K course in 25:14.8 to earn Runner of the Year honors. Ikeda finished 11.2 seconds ahead of Lancaster Bible's Helms to claim the individual crown.

Penn State Abington sophomore Mason Kaminski rounded out the top three with a time of 26:13.1. Berks' Branford and Maldonado completed the top five, while Gallaudet freshman Dylan Olmos placed sixth in 26:49.1.

Penn State Harrisburg freshman Michael Alder finished seventh in 26:53.7, followed by Berks' Jordan in eighth. St. Mary's teammates Smoot and Walsh rounded out the top 10.

Penn State Berks freshman Adrian Maldonado was named the 2026 United East Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year after finishing fifth overall with a time of 26:35.5. Maldonado was the highest-finishing freshman in the championship field and played a key role in helping the Nittany Lions capture their second consecutive conference title.

Penn State Berks head coach Ryan Foster earned 2026 United East Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Nittany Lions to their second straight conference championship. Under Foster's leadership, Berks placed three runners among the top eight finishers and five among the top 21 to secure the team title.

2026 United East Men's Cross Country Team Standings

1. Penn State Berks – 50 points
2. St. Mary's College of Maryland – 65 points
3. Lancaster Bible College – 96 points
4. Penn College – 108 points
5. Gallaudet University – 134 points
6. Penn State Harrisburg – 142 points
7. Penn State Abington – 187 points
8. Penn State Brandywine – 190 points
9. Cairn University – 196 points

Top 8 Individual Finishers

1. Sevan Ikeda, Gallaudet – 25:14.8
2. David Helms, Lancaster Bible – 25:26.0
3. Mason Kaminski, Penn State Abington – 26:13.1
4. Samuel Branford, Penn State Berks – 26:27.5
5. Adrian Maldonado, Penn State Berks – 26:35.5
6. Dylan Olmos, Gallaudet – 26:49.1
7. Michael Alder, Penn State Harrisburg – 26:53.7
8. Trent Jordan, Penn State Berks – 26:55.1

For complete results and additional championship information, visit the 2026 United East Men's Cross Country Championship Central.

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