Lancaster, Pa. – (11/4/2026) – With the 2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Cross Country Championship trophy safely on the Gwynedd Mercy University campus, Conference Commissioner Rebecca Mullen has officially released the members of the 2026 All-AEC Men's Cross Country Team and Major Award Winners. Gwynedd Mercy University sophomore Conner Brennan (Hatboro, Pa.) was recognized as the AEC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year (1^st, 28:351) and the AEC Men's Cross Country Elite Scholar Award winner, while he was joined on the All-AEC First Team by freshman Caleb Kane (Scranton, Pa.) (3^rd, 29:07.7) and freshman Jake Killen (Lansdale, Pa.) (4^th, 29:52.7). The two remaining members of the Red and Gold's championship scoring five – freshmen Hunter Magee (Bensalem, Pa.) (9^th, 31:14.6) and Michael Csink (Huntington Valley, Pa.) (11^th, 31:38.1) were recognized on the All-AEC Second Team.

 
Gwynedd Mercy University Head Coach Joe Dyas and his staff; Branden Soubik '24, '25 and Roxy Iliescu, shared the AEC Men's Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year honors with Immaculata University. Behind Gwynedd Mercy University (1^st of 3, 28 points), Marymount University (2^nd of 3, 41 points) was recognized as the AEC Men's Cross Country Runner-Up. Their freshman, Philologus Smith (Waldorf, Md.) (2^nd, 29:06.2) was recognized as the AEC Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year.
 
In 2026, Brennan has enjoyed the support of a deeper roster; the Red and Gold added five freshmen and a junior that helped them earn team scores at the DeSales University Invitational (T5th of 8, 179 points on Sept. 19) and Rowan University's Border Battle (8^th of 12, 244 points on Oct. 17). His finishes at DeSales University Invitational (33^rd, 28:37.6) and the Rowan University Border Battle (40^th, 31:40.2) earned him the AEC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week award on September 21 and October 19.
 
Academically, the sophomore accounting major has earned 33 total credit hours with a 3.77 grade point average (GPA). He is a two-time member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Academic Elite (Fall 2025, Spring 2026) and a member of the 2025-2026 AEC All-Academic Team.
 
Of the newcomers, Kane and Killen emerged as the Griffins' top recruits; the former was joined the squad for a 67^th-place finish (67^th, 33:56.2) at the Rowan University Border Battle (Oct. 17), while the latter was the Red and Gold's top finisher (72^nd, 30:44.0) at Lebanon Valley College's Dutchmen Invitational (Sept. 5) and second, behind Brennan, at the DeSales University Invitational (53^rd, 30:20.0) and the Border Battle (46^th, 31:50.9).
 
Prior to his All-AEC Second Team run, Magee placed 92^nd (32:02.1) at the Dutchmen Invitational (Sept. 5) and 65^th (32:10.9) at the DeSales University Invitational (Sept. 19). Similarly, Csink finished 64^th (21:59.7) at the Dutchmen Invitational and 74^th (35:28.8) at the DeSales University Invitational.
 
The complete list of the 2026 AEC Men's Cross Country Team and Major Award Winners are listed below and available using the provided links;
 
2026 All-AEC Men's Cross Country Team & Major Award Winners
 
AEC Men's Cross Country Major Award Winners
Champion – Gwynedd Mercy University
Runner-Up - Marymount University
Runner of the Year – Conner Brennan, So., Gwynedd Mercy University
Rookie of the Year – Philologus Smith, Fr. Marymount University
Elite Scholar Award - Conner Brennan, So., Gwynedd Mercy University
Coaching Staff of the Year – Gwynedd Mercy University and Immaculata University
 
All-AEC First Team

Place.Name, School	Time
1. Conner Brennan, Gwynedd Mercy University	28:35.1
2.  Philologus Smith, Marymount University	29:06.2
3. Caleb Kane, Gwynedd Mercy University	29:07.7
4. Jake Killen, Gwynedd Mercy University	29:52.7
5. Declan McGorry, Immaculata University	30:01.2
6. Henry Brys, Marymount University	30:16.6
7. Patrick Porter, Marymount University	30:52.6

All-AEC Second Team

Place.Name, School	Time
8. Thomas Petroski, Immaculata University	31:09.4
9. Hunter Magee, Gwynedd Mercy University	31:14.6
10. Jack Oman, Marymount University	31:33.0
11. Michael Csink, Gwynedd Mercy University	31:38.1
12. Jason Canterino, Immaculata University	32:33.9
13. Jimmy Lauer, Immaculata University	32:35.3
14. Jackson Brock, Pratt Institute	33:03.5