DES MOINES, Iowa – Indiana State's top five women's runners all placed in the top 25 Friday, leading the Sycamores to a third-place finish at the 2026 MVC Cross Country Championships.
 
Brittney Burak and Hadley Gradolf claimed top-15 finishes to lead the way for the Blue and White at A.H. Blank Golf Course, earning all-conference accolades in the process. Halle Miller, Peyton Smith and Eve Schurr all placed in the top 25 for the Trees. Emerson Fayman and Ryan Handy carded top-30 finishes for the Blue and White on the men's side, as the Sycamores placed sixth and were just one point off the top five.
 
Burak earned First Team All-MVC honors for the second straight year, placing sixth with a time of 20:28.6 to give Indiana State its fourth top-10 individual finish in the last three conference championships. Gradolf placed 14th with a time of 20:46.1 to earn her first career all-conference accolade, being named Second Team All-MVC. Miller was right behind at 20:47.1 to finish 16th, just three-tenths of a second off a top-15 finish.
 
Smith and Schurr rounded out the Sycamores' scoring in 24th and 25th, running times of 21:13.3 and 21:15.3, respectively. Katy Green crossed the line in 21:28.2 to finish 32nd in her first MVC Championship. Gnister Grant ran a time of 21:42.0 to place just outside the top 40, while Emersyn Bland and Lily Rollings closed out the Indiana State contingent with times of 22:31.0 and 22:31.3, respectively.
 
Fayman was the first Sycamore to cross the line on the men's side, coming in 23rd with a time of 24:33.9 to match his best finish at an MVC Championship. Handy followed in 28th at 24:38.3, his best finish at the conference meet, with Ryan York placing 31st by crossing the line in 24:40.8
 
Xander Fackler made a late charge to record his best finish at a conference championship, stopping the clock in 24:50.8 to place 36th. Brandon Mueller finished 41st in 24:58.5 to round out the Sycamores' top five, while Chris Angeles was 55th with a time of 25:28.0. Henry McMurry (25:45.6), Alex Alvarez (26:05.4) and Parker Mimbela (26:32.6) closed out the Indiana State contingent.
 
Bradley won both team titles, while the Braves' Noelle Steines (19:55.2) and Jayde Rosselee (23:00.3) claimed the individual titles.
 
 
Indiana State Results (Men's 8K/Women's 6K)
WOMEN'S 6K: 3rd of 11 teams (6-14-16-23-24-(31)-(40))– 83 points
6. Brittney Burak – 20:28.6 (First Team All-MVC, second in program history)
14. Hadley Gradolf – 20:46.1 (Second Team All-MVC, fourth in program history)
16. Halle Miller – 20:47.1 (fifth in program history)
24. Peyton Smith – 21:13.3 (12th in program history)
25. Eve Schurr – 21:15.3 (13th in program history)
32. Katy Green – 21:28.2 (15th in program history)
41. Gnister Grant – 21:42.0
67. Emersyn Bland – 22:31.0
68. Lily Rollings – 22:31.3
 
MEN'S 8K: 6th of 11 teams (21-26-29-34-39-(50)-(57))– 149 points
23. Emerson Fayman – 24:33.9
28. Ryan Handy – 24:38.3
31. Ryan York – 24:40.8
36. Xander Fackler – 24:50.8
41. Brandon Mueller – 24:58.5
54. Chris Angeles – 25:28.0
62. Henry McMurry – 25:45.6
73. Alex Alvarez – 26:05.4
80. Parker Mimbela – 26:32.6
 
Up Next
Indiana State returns to action November 13 for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in East Lansing, Michigan.
 
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