NEW YORK – Providence's Kiera Hall and Villanova's Sophia McInnes were named BIG EAST Co-Female Athletes of the Week, while Jack Dowd of Providence and Dan Watcke of Villanova were selected as Co-Male Athletes of the Week in the final weekly conference cross country awards for the 2026 regular season.

Hall placed first for the Friars at the Brown Rothenberg Run, clocking 10:00.0 for the three-kilometer course.  McInnes led Villanova at the Haverford Invitational, covering the five-kilometer race in a time of 17:58.3.  Dowd was the top finisher for the Providence men's squad at the Brown Rothenberg Run, crossing the line in a time of 15:20.3 for 5K.  Watcke placed second at the Haverford Invitational, in a time of 19:43.9 for the four-mile run.

BIG EAST Female Athletes of the Week
Kiera Hall, Providence, Sr. 
Hall won the Brown Rothenberg Run in a time of 10:00.0 for the three-kilometer course.  She was one of four Friars to finish in the top 10 of the race, helping Providence to a team victory in the final regular season race before championship season.

Sophia McInnes, Villanova, So.
McInnes led Villanova to a first place finish at the Haverford Invitational, covering the five-kilometer course in a time of 17:58.3 - a collegiate personal best time for 5K.  She was one of four Wildcats to finish among the top 10 of the race, helping Nova to a second place team finish.

BIG EAST Male Athletes of the Week
Jack Dowd, Providence, So.
Dowd placed second overall at the Brown Rothenberg Run, clocking a time of 15:20.3 for the five-kilometer course.  The sophomore helped lead the Friars to the team title as all seven Providence runners who toed the starting line finished among the top 10, en route to compiling 16 team points.

Dan Watcke, Villanova, Sr.
Watcke placed second overall at the Haverford Invitational, covering the four-mile race in a time of 19:43.9.  He was one of four individuals who competed for the Wildcats at the final regular season meet of 2026.  

Women's Notes – Providence won the Brown Rothenberg Run at the Mark Coogan course in North Attleboro, Mass...the Friars put four runners in the top 10 of the 3,000m course, as Gemma Galvan was second (10:04.5), Ciara Evans eighth (10:17.4), and Kaleigh Higgins 10th (10:19.1)...Villanova placed second in the seven-team field at the Haverford Invitational, thanks to placing four runners among the top 10 and all five scorers among the top 11...Caelen O'Leary was sixth (18:13.7), while Ivy Slavinski was eighth (18:22.8), Gabby Pistner ninth (18:28.2), and Lily Hodneland rounded out the Nova scorers in 11th (18:49.4).

Men's Notes – Providence was dominant at the Brown Rothenberg Run, with seven top 10 finishers to take the team title, including all five scorers among the top seven overall...David Hayes was third (15:21), followed by Jeb Hillary (15:30) in fourth, and Ryan Welch in fifth (15:33).  Adam Wedlake was seventh (15:37)...Villanova had four individual competitors race at the Haverford Invitational, led by Dan Watcke's second place finish in a time of 19:43.9 for four miles.
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In The Polls – The USTFCCCA regional and national polls will update on Nov. 2 and 3, respectively, following conference championship meets from around the country.  

The most recent national poll was released on Tuesday, Oct. 20.  For the men, Georgetown leads the way at No. 11, followed by Villanova at No. 12.  Butler sits at No. 26.  The BIG EAST is one of five conferences with at least two teams ranked among the nation's top 15 and is one of six leagues with three teams in the top 30.  On the women's poll, Providence ranks No. 30. 

On the week #5 regional polls, released on Oct. 19, several BIG EAST teams are featured:

Women
Great Lakes: 12. Butler
Mid-Atlantic: 4. Villanova; 8. Georgetown
Northeast: 1. Providence; 4. UConn

Men
Great Lakes: 4. Butler
Mid-Atlantic: 1. Villanova; 2. Georgetown
Northeast: 5. Providence