ST. PAUL, Minn. – North Dakota's women's cross country team defended its crown Saturday morning by dominating the entire field at the 2026 Summit League Championships in St. Paul, Minn., while the Fighting Hawk men earned the silver medal in the 8k race.

North Dakota's cross country teams once again demonstrated that they are among the most competitive programs in the country, as all 10 scoring athletes earned All-Summit honors.

Shewaye Johnson took home the individual title in the women's 6k, a race she led from nearly start to finish. She paced the field with a 20:30.0-even finish, outpacing South Dakota's Geneva Timmerman. Johnson was the first of what would be five total First Team All-Summit League runners, the most in program history.

As a team, North Dakota's women scored 22 points, 38 points better than second-place finisher South Dakota. Alongside Johnson, freshman Leni Hirt earned Summit League Newcomer of the Championship with her 13th-place finish.

North Dakota's men once again gave South Dakota State a run for its money, finishing nine points shy of their first Summit League title. Louis-Lys Fanucchi and Matej Hrebacka paced the team, finishing third and fifth, respectively, to garner First Team All-Summit League. The Fighting Hawks' 45 team points serve as a program-best outing at the championship.

The women kicked off the morning in the best way possible. Johnson took an early lead with Olivia Correale accompanying her from just behind. Naja Weiler, Frida Giersdorff and Marie-Louise Jorgensen complemented the front pairing by never dropping out of the top 10 runners.

By the 3k split, Weiler and Correale were switching behind Johnson, with Weiler eventually taking sole possession of second place. Correale, Giersdorff and Jorgensen anchored the dominant back half for the remainder of the race.

Weiler crossed the finish line less than 10 seconds after Johnson and claimed the individual bronze medal at 20:37.8. In rapid succession, Correale (20:47.5), Giersdorff (20:52.4) and Jorgensen (20:55.9) crossed the line in fifth, sixth and seventh place, respectively, each earning All-Summit League First Team honors.

Hirt was the team's sixth finisher, finishing with a personal best 21:18.0 time to earn All-Summit League Second Team honors. As the fastest-finishing newcomer of the conference, Hirt secured UND's second consecutive Newcomer of the Championship award, as Jorgensen earned the distinction last season.

For Johnson, Weiler and Jorgensen, it marks their second career All-Summit League nods, while Correale, Giersdorff and Hirt enjoy their first.

In the men's 8k, all five of North Dakota's scoring athletes finished in the top 14. Fanucchi led the way with a 24:02.7 finish to claim the individual bronze medal. It marks the second time in his career he's earned third place at the Summit League Championship.

Hrebacka followed in fifth at 24:15.2, upping his personal best finish from last season in the process. Hrebacka became just the second Fighting Hawk with three career All-Summit League honors, joining 5-timer Luke Labatte.

Aleksa Milanovic, Ian Busche and Jonas Weschle solidified North Dakota's scoring, with the latter two becoming All-Summit League honorees for the first time in their careers. Milanovic (24:15.2) and Busche (24:46.0) went 11 and 12, while Weschle (24:46.8) finished less than a second behind Busche to earn claim 14th place.

North Dakota cross country will now set its sights to the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa, on Nov. 13.

How It Happened 
UND Women's Results (6k)
1. Shewaye Johnson – 20:30.0
3. Naja Weiler – 20:37.8
5. Olivia Correale – 20:47.5
6. Frida Giersdorff – 20:52.4
7. Marie-Louise Jorgensen – 20:55.9
(13.) Leni Hirt – 21:18.0*
 (17.) Katherine Rogers – 21:47.2
20. Sonja Lindemann – 21:53.0^
22. Karolina Vynuchalova – 21:58.6^
25. Addison Beuche – 22:00.1^*

UND Men's Point Scorers (8k)
3. Louis-Lys Fanucchi – 24:02.7
5. Matej Hrebacka – 24:15.2
11. Aleksa Milanovic – 24:44.5
12. Ian Busche – 24:46.0
14. Jonas Weschle – 24:46.8
(17.) Ethan Adams – 24:55.7
(23.) Weston Forward – 25:08.1
31. Jack Turnbull – 25:25.0^
36. Niko Angell – 25:38.9
51. Henrik Lindstrot – 26:14.7

* - Personal Record
^ - Non-scorer

Post-Meet Notes

• UND women claimed its second Summit League title in repeat fashion
• The women scored 22 points as runners finished 1-3-5-6-7-(13)-(17). Twenty-two points is the best performance in program history at the league championship
• UND men earned second place in the 8k, falling just nine points shy of South Dakota State
• The men scored 45 points as runners finished 3-5-11-12-14-(17)-(23)
• Johnson became the third Fighting Hawk woman to be crowned the individual Summit League champion in program history, joining Jadyn Keeler (2025) and Yonca Kutluk (2023)
• Eleven total Fighting Hawks earned All-Summit League status, including all 10 scoring athletes
• Leni Hirt earned Newcomer of the Tournament honors for being the top-finishing freshman or transfer
• All five women scorers placed in the top seven

For more information on North Dakota cross country and track and field, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDtrackfieldXC.