Men’s and Women’s Cross Country

The men’s cross country team made history by securing first place at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships, held March 20 in Bethany, West Virginia.

The win marked the first PAC Championship by a Franciscan athletic team in any sport. The Barons joined the PAC in 2020 but the pandemic curtailed most NCAA-Division III activities that year.

Liam Galligan ’21 beat the field of 64 runners and took first place in the 5-kilometer race with a pace-setting time of 15:46. Five of the race’s top 10 runners were Franciscan Barons.

The women’s cross country team placed second overall at the Women’s PAC Championship.

Rising senior Alison Bryant finished 50 seconds ahead of her second-place competitor. Three Lady Barons finished in the top 20.

Biology professor Dr. Daniel Kuebler, dean of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, was named PAC Coach of the Year. This marks Kuebler’s fifth Coach of the Year award, and his first since Franciscan joined the PAC.

“I’m blessed to have some really talented runners who share a great work ethic and competitive desire,” says Kuebler. “That’s what really matters. I just provide them the opportunity to compete and stay out of the way of their talent.”