MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's cross country team returns six of its seven competitors from last year's regional lineup. The lone departure is Isaac vanWestrienen, the most accomplished men's distance runner in school history.
 
The Rams are moving forward without their nine-time all-American and NCAA 10,000-meter champion with clear intentions of staying in the top tier in the Midwest Conference.
 
"Virtually everybody else returns to our team," said two-time MWC Coach of the Year Jerry Frawley, who enters his sixth season at the helm. "A lot of our guys are coming off the best summers they've ever had. We pride ourselves in development. Depth wise, we should be better than last year."
 
The Rams are picked fourth in the 10-team MWC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Cornell took third at the 2025 MWC Championships, marking the program's eighth Top 3 showing in the past nine years.    
 
Cornell will build around senior Jake Bach, the top returning placewinner from the MWC meet. Bach placed third at conference last year, earned all-region status (14th) and qualified for the NCAA Championships.
 
"Jake is walking into this season a lot differently than last year," Frawley said. "He's more comfortable. Things are starting to click for him. He is going to be a really good low stick. Jake has higher goals than just qualifying for the NCAAs."
 
Emerging junior Isaac Morris will also be counted on at the top of the lineup. He's coming off a 19th-place all-conference finish in 2025.
 
"Isaac has taken significant steps forward," Frawley said. "After that, our No. 3-7 guys could interchange every meet. That group is capable of moving up a lot from last year."
 
Cornell's returning regional runners include seniors Anthony Zamudio and Grant Anderson, junior Caleb Long and sophomore Caden Edwards. Senior Jaxon Barnes placed 43rd at conference. Sophomores Carson Krogman and Easton Mai are among the younger Rams in the mix.
 
"We'll work on building confidence throughout the fall. It's a long season," Frawley said. "We want to stay healthy and be at our best when it matters most at conference, regionals and the NCAAs."
 
The Rams open the season at Friday's Mustang Gallop at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids. Race time is 6 p.m.
 
Beloit is this year's host of the MWC Championships Oct. 31 in Beloit, Wis. The Midwest Region Championships are Nov. 14 in Rock Island, Ill., followed by the NCAA Championships Nov. 21 in Northfield, Minn.