WAVERLY – He's the best in the conference, now the best in the region.
 
Senior Isaac vanWestrienen became Cornell's first-ever regional cross country champion Saturday at the Midwest Region Championships.
 
VanWestrienen captured individual gold with a swift 8K time of 24:00 on Max Championship Cross Country Course. He pulled away from the lead pack late and clocked a decisive eight-second victory over Wartburg runner-up Isaiah Hammerand.
 
VanWestrienen punched his ticket to nationals for the third consecutive year. He'll be joined – unofficially – by junior teammate Jake Bach who finished 14th (24:43) in his Cornell regional debut.
 
The NCAA Division III Championships are next Saturday, Nov. 22 in Spartanburg, S.C. The official list of qualifiers will be announced Sunday.
 
VanWestrienen earned all-region status for the third year in a row, after placing fourth in 2024 and 16th in 2023. The two-time Midwest Conference champion took the early lead in the 238-man field at the 1000-meter mark. VanWestrienen hung in the third position through 5K and then made his move down the homestretch.
 
Bach's strong showing gave the Rams two all-region (top 35) men's performers for the first time since 2018. The transfer from the University of Wyoming will make his NCAA debut next weekend.
 
Coach Jerry Frawley's youthful Rams finished 14th in the 32-team field with 401 points. Host Wartburg ran away with the team title, scoring 30 points.
 
Sophomore Isaac Morris brought in Cornell's third score, placing 114th in 27:33. Junior Tony Zamudio crossed in 27:50 for 131st. Freshman Caden Edwards rounded out the team's scoring five in 152nd (28:41).
 
Sophomore Caleb Long took 157th (28:52) and junior Grant Anderson was 190th (29:51).
 
VanWestrienen was the only Cornell competitor with regional experience prior to Saturday's race.
 
The Rams also earned one point in the 2025-26 Bremner Cup All-Sport Series with their head-to-head win over rival Coe in dual scoring. The Kohawks lead the competition 6-3.