USTFCCCA Individual Release | USTFCCCA Team Release

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Saint John's University cross country team and junior Cole Stencel (Mapleton, Minn./Maple River) received U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic recognition on Thursday, Jan. 29.

A total of 194 men's programs earned the Division III team honor. To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the team must record a cumulative team GPA of 3.10 or better. Twenty-seven Johnnies combined for a cumulative team GPA of 3.62.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet. A total of 356 different athletes were recognized with the award.

A physics major with a 3.79 GPA, Stencel led SJU in all six varsity races in 2025, including a fourth-place finish with a personal-best time of 25:26 to earn All-MIAC recognition (top 15) at the conference meet in November. Stencel achieved his first All-Region honor (top 35 individually) with a 23rd-place finish (25:31). He received an at-large selection to the NCAA Division III Championships where he finished 148th out of 291 runners.

Thirteen cross country student-athletes were named Academic All-MIAC earlier this week (Jan. 28). The Johnnies finished fourth out of 11 teams at the MIAC Championship and 13th out of 31 teams at the NCAA Regional this fall.