PHILADELPHIA (October 26, 2025) – Wilmington University senior Julian Jones was named the 2025 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Men’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year after winning this year’s CACC Championship race on Sunday morning at Belmont Plateau. The meet was hosted by Thomas Jefferson University.
Jones, a first-year transfer for the Wildcats, completed 8,000 meters in 26 minutes, 14.84 seconds. He finished 14 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, and came within a fraction of a second of the meet record of 26:14.70 set last year by Caldwell University’s Joey Datta.
Jefferson freshman Dylan Boyle was tapped as the 2025 CACC Rookie of the Year. Boyle finished third overall and first among rookies by crossing the finish line in 27:08. He joined Jones on the All-CACC Team, a status bestowed upon the top 15 finishers.
Wilmington, which was nipped by Jefferson, 49-51, for the team championship, led the way with five all-conference performers. In addition to Jones, junior Carter Sparwasser placed ninth and freshman teammate Julian Rich was 12th. The Wildcats also grabbed the last two slots with freshmen Skyler Pearson and Reggie Hernandez finishing 14th and 15th, respectively.
Jefferson placed four runners on the all-conference squad on its way to claiming the team title. Backing Boyle’s effort were senior Chase Watson in sixth and freshmen Thierno Barry and Ryan Goldberg in 11th and 13th places. Goldey-Beacom College had a trio of honorees – freshman Eerik Wilhborg (4th), senior Kosiani Dunkley (7th), and junior John Ferry (10th) – on its way to a third-place result.
Rounding out the All-CACC team were senior Toby Middleton (2nd) and sophomore Edoardo Vandelli (5th) of the University of Bridgeport and junior Ryan Pettrow of Georgian Court University (8th). Seven all-conference slots were claimed by freshmen.
At the post-race awards ceremony, Wilmington’s Sparwasser was awarded the 2025 CACC Men’s Cross-Country Top XVI award for carrying the highest cumulative grade-point average among the competitors, a 4.00.
2025 CACC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
(Top 15 Finishers in Individual Standings of 8,000-Meter Championship Race)
1. Julian Jones, Wilmington, 26:14.9
2. Toby Middleton, Bridgeport, 26:28.5
3. Dylan Boyle, Jefferson, 27:08.9
4. Eerik Wilhborg, Goldey-Beacom, 27:25.1
5. Edoardo Vandelli, Bridgeport, 27:42.6
6. Chase Watson, Jefferson, 27:45.9
7. Kosiani Dunkley, Goldey-Beacom, 27:48.9
8. Ryan Pettrow, Georgian Court, 27:49.3
9. Carter Sparwasser, Wilmington, 27:51.7
10. John Ferry, Goldey-Beacom, 27:57.0
11. Thierno Barry, Jefferson, 28:12.1
12. Julian Rich, Wilmington, 28:12.3
13. Ryan Goldberg, Jefferson, 28:16.0
14. Skyler Pearson, Wilmington, 28:23.6
15. Reggie Hernandez, Wilmington, 28:28.7
2025 CACC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR
(First-Place Finisher in the Event)
Julian Jones, Wilmington University
2025 CACC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
(Top Rookie Finisher in the Event)
Dylan Boyle, Thomas Jefferson University
2025 CACC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP TOP XVI AWARD WINNER
(Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average at the Finals Site)
Carter Sparwasser, Wilmington University, 4.00
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.