SEASON OVERVIEW
The Immaculata University men's cross-country team, led by third-year head coach
David Smith and assistant coach
Matt Murray, completed a strong 2025 season highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Championships on November 1. Throughout the fall, the Mighty Macs produced consistent team performances at the Philadelphia Cross Classic, Cairn Highlander Invitational, and Rowan Inter-Regional Border Battle.
Â
At the AEC Championships, Immaculata secured its third team runner-up finish in the past four seasons. The Mighty Macs placed two runners among the top finishers, as
Connor Kakowski earned a ninth-place result and
Jimmy Lauer finished fifteenth, with both runners receiving All-Atlantic East Conference honors.
Â
The season concluded at the NCAA Division III Metro Regional Championships, where Kakowski posted a sub-30-minute performance, and three Immaculata runners recorded personal-best times, reflecting continued development across the roster.
Â
AWARDS
- Connor Kakowski – All-Atlantic East Conference Second Team.
- Jimmy Lauer – All-Atlantic East Conference Second Team.
- Kendall Budlow – Atlantic East Conference Elite Scholar Athlete (highest cumulative GPA at the AEC Finals site)
Â
HIGHLIGHTS
- Connor Kakowski capped off a strong senior campaign with several standout performances. He recorded a 5K personal best of 17:49.7 at the Bryn Mawr Invitational and earned top 25 finishes at both the Philadelphia Cross Classic and Cairn Highlander Invitational. Kakowski ran his second fastest 8K time (28:08.6) at the Rowan Border Battle, placed ninth at the AEC Championships (30:04.1), and closed his collegiate career with a time of 29:09.4 at the NCAA Metro Regional Championships.
- Jimmy Lauer ran a 5K personal best of 19:06.6 at the Bryn Mawr Invitational, earned All-AEC honors with a 15th-place finish at the conference championships (32:00.0), and posted an 8K personal best of 30:19.0 at the NCAA Metro Regional Championships.
- Chris Watson earned a top 20 finish at the AEC Championships with a time of 32:54.7 and concluded his collegiate cross-country career with a time of 31:47.7 at the NCAA Metro Regional Championships.
- Samuel Domencic earned his first career event victory at the Bryn Mawr Invitational, winning the race with a 5K personal best time of 16:35.9.
- Jason Canterino placed 22nd at the AEC Championships with a time of 35:24.0.
- Luca Patrone recorded an 8K personal best of 33:57.9 at the NCAA Metro Regional Championships.
- Kendall Budlow posted a 5K personal best of 26:05.0 at the Bryn Mawr Invitational and an 8K personal best of 40:18.3 at the Rowan Border Battle. He finished 34th at the AEC Championships (40:40.3) and earned the AEC Elite Scholar Athlete Award.
- Alexander Wilson ran a 5K personal best of 22:21.2 at the Bryn Mawr Invitational and added an 8K personal best of 37:04.6 at the AEC Championships.
- Nick Heinlein recorded an 8K personal best time of 33:29.3 at the NCAA Metro Regional Championships.
- Yerlin Ortiz ran an 8K personal best time of 42:07.2 at the Rowan Border Battle.
