NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference on Monday announced its 2026 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Awards for Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Runner of the Year, Elite Award and the All-Sun Belt Teams from the championships.
The Men’s and Women’s Freshman of the Year honors go to the top-finishing freshman at the Sun Belt Conference Championships who are in their first year competing for their institution. Anna Pucilowski from James Madison claimed the Women’s Freshman of the Year honor, while App State’s Jackson Tuck captured Men’s Freshman of the Year. Pucilowski placed sixth at the championship to earn First Team All-Sun Belt honors in 17:37.2 (5K). Tuck also earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors by finishing sixth with a time of 24:13 (8K).
The Men’s and Women’s Newcomer of the Year honors go to the top-finishing newcomer at the Sun Belt Conference Championships who are in their first year competing for their institution, after competing at a previous institution. Marshall’s Rachael Withrow won the women’s race with a new Sun Belt record time of 16:15 (5K) to also capture Women’s Runner of the Year honors. The fifth year transfer won all five races she competed in this fall, including the championship in Foley, Ala. On the men’s side, App State’s Thomas Wlazlowski gave the Mountaineers their first individual champion in a time of 23:33 (8K) to claim Men’s Runner of the Year honors.
App State’s Henry Stark was named the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Cross Country Elite Award Winner as Louisiana’s Ella Segura was named the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Cross Country Elite Award Winner. The pair also repeated as the Elite Award Winners last season.
After leading the Mountaineers to their fourth consecutive men’s cross country championship title, App State’s Brad Herbster was selected as the Coach of the Year. It marked the second time in league history that a team has won four consecutive team titles. Louisiana’s Tommy Badon was selected as the women’s cross country Coach of the Year after leading the Ragin Cajuns to their first women’s title. Badon’s squad placed all five scoring runners in the top 20 en route to the title.
2026 Sun Belt Cross Country Awards
2026 Women’s Freshman of the Year: Anna Pucilowski, James Madison
2026 Women’s Newcomer of the Year: Rachael Withrow, Marshall
2026 Women’s Runner of the Year: Rachael Withrow, Marshall
2026 Women’s Elite Award Winner: Ella Segura, Louisiana
2026 Women’s Coach of the Year: Tommy Badon, Louisiana
2026 Women’s First Team All-Sun Belt
Rachael Withrow, Marshall
Aiden Harrand, Southern Miss
Isabelle Russell, Louisiana
Charleen Elizondo, South Alabama
Ella Segura, Louisiana
Anna Pucilowski, James Madison
Angelle Dupuis, Louisiana
2026 Women’s Second Team All-Sun Belt
Sidney Walters, James Madison
Josze Jackson, App State
Tessa Massa, App State
Corinne Croy, Southern Miss
Brooker Berger, Louisiana
Maya Nobes, ULM
Addison Rainey, Southern Miss
2026 Women’s Third Team All-Sun Belt
Mullane Baumiller, James Madison
Tuva Sandberg, ULM
Destinee Frink, Georgia State
Erika Krueger, Arkansas State
Chloe Crowell, Louisiana
Anna Balbekova, Arkansas State
Bre Budzinski, App State
2026 Men’s Freshman of the Year: Jackson Tuck, App State
2026 Men’s Runner of the Year: Thomas Wlazlowski, App State
2026 Men’s Elite Award Winner: Henry Stark, App State
2026 Men’s Coach of the Year: Brad Herbster, App State
2026 Men’s First Team All-Sun Belt
Thomas Wlazlowski, App State
Kgaogelo Moloisi, ULM
Noah Martinson, App State
Henry Stark, App State
Carlo Martinez-Jaramillo, Arkansas State
Jackson Tuck, App State
Rowan Gwin, App State
2026 Men’s Second Team All-Sun Belt
Aaron Kidd, App State
Matthew Maynard, Louisiana
Aidan Morrow, App State
Derek Waite, App State
Brady Keller, South Alabama
Justin Lipscomb, Marshall
Adam Groves, Coastal Carolina
2026 Men’s Third Team All-Sun Belt
Evan Stevens, Arkansas State
Joe Edwards, Arkansas State
Amos Kimble, Marshall
Ryan Hughes, Marshall
Thomas Nitz, Coastal Carolina
Pranav Vegiraju, Arkansas State
Joshua Gill, ULM