DULUTH, Minn. – St. Scholastica first-year runner Cadyn Vanderwal (Ortonville, MN/Ortonville High School) has been named the 2026 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year, highlighting his debut season with the Saints.

Vanderwal also earned All-MIAC recognition after placing sixth at the conference championships in 25:40.4. The Ortonville, Minn., native was the highest-finishing first-year runner in the field and the lone first-year competitor among the top 10.

His performance put him more than 12 seconds ahead of the next first-year finisher, Bethel's Max Meissner, who placed 11th in 25:52.5.

Vanderwal's sixth-place finish secured his first career all-conference honor, awarded to the top 15 finishers at the MIAC Championships. Runners finishing 16th through 25th receive honorable mention recognition.