Hillsdale junior Allison Kuzma continues to set the pace in the Midwest Region as the 2026 NCAA DII women's cross country season continues.

Kuzma's latest title came on Friday morning in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, as the Zeeland, Michigan native ran her way to the Open Division title at the prestigious event with a scorching time of 16:23.77.

That mark shatters the G-MAC record for a cross country 5K, beating out the old mark held by Mackenna Curtis-Collins of Malone by more than 30 seconds. Curtis-Collins set the record in 2021 by running a 16:59.50 at the Royals Challenge, and until Kuzma's race today was the only G-MAC performance to break the 17 minute mark in a cross country 5K.

Kuzma overcame a tough field that included 2024 NCAA DII national champion Lauren Kiley of Grand Valley State, who competed unattached, as well as several members of the defending NCAA DI team champion North Carolina State, headlined by stellar freshman Maddie Gullickson. Kuzma trailed both runners at the mile mark but had blown past them and into the lead a kilometer and a half later, ultimately opening up a 27 second gap to Gullickson in second by the finish line two kilometers later.

Hillsdale took third as a team in the open race. Senior Eleanor Clark placed 21st in a new collegiate best time for a cross country 5K, 18:18.82, while first-year competitor Taylor Brodeur took 42nd in 18:58.15 as well. Sophomore Mavis Banks placed 46th in 19:03.04 as well for Hillsdale, and senior Savannah Fraley rounded out the Chargers' scoring finishers in 50th place with a time of 19:09.52.

Freshman Audrey Hartman took 83rd in 20:02.74 and senior Megan Roberts placed 90th in 20:17.02 as well for Hillsdale.

The Chargers have one more meet on the calendar before the G-MAC Championships on Nov. 7, as Hillsdale travels to New Boston, Michigan for the Warrior Challenge on Oct. 24 and one final tune-up race before championship season begins in earnest.