On Saturday, November 15, Dickinson hosted the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship at Big Spring High School, the first time that Dickinson had hosted the meet in thirteen years.
Dickinson’s captain Nathan Caldwell ’27 led the way for the Red Devils, placing 11th in 25:38.10 to secure an individual berth to the NCAA Championships. Right behind him was sophomore standout Luke Knestout ’28, who finished 12th in 25:39.83, also punching his ticket to nationals. Alexander Kane ’26 crossed in 25:58.26 for 22nd, narrowly missing the qualifying cutoff. These performances propelled the Red Devils to a strong fourth-place team finish in a field of 31 schools and 218 runners, scoring 154 points with an average time of 26:13.
Caldwell reflected on both the atmosphere and the team’s cohesion: “It was so great to have not only the entire team, but alumni, parents, and professors cheering us on.”. He elaborated, “Running the final thousand meters side-by-side with Luke and qualifying for nationals together was a feeling I’ll never forget.” Knestout echoed that sense of partnership, noting how crucial Caldwell was at the decisive 7k point and final hill of the race.
Jake Hennessy ’29 — the lone freshman to earn a spot in Dickinson’s seven-man regional squad — reflected on the experience of competing on this stage for the first time, stating “I was definitely nervous going into the race, but having our guys come out and support us really helped my mindset and pushed all of us to give it our all.”
For Knestout, the accomplishment carried personal significance as well. Knestout spent his summer training for a successful season. As Knestout looks ahead to NCAA Championships, he’s approaching the opportunity with both ambition and perspective. “More than anything, it’s the experience that I’m most excited about,” he said. “Running on the national stage against the best of what D3 has to offer is an incredible opportunity, and I’m excited to see how I fare still relatively early in my collegiate career. I have my sights set on an All-American spot by the time I graduate, so this year is really all about experience.”
With the regional meet marking a strong finish to the season for the Red Devils, the team has already turned their attention toward what the program can accomplish next fall. The team’s depth, steady improvement, and emerging young core have given them reason to believe they can build on this momentum.
