STANDISH, Maine - The defending Great Northeast Athletic Conference champion Saint Joseph’s College men’s cross country team, led by fourth-year Head Coach Michael Burleson and Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks ’22, welcomes an eight-member newcomer class for the 2026 season. The group includes seven freshmen and sophomore Nick Munyaneza (Gorham, Maine).
The freshman contingent features Alberth Avila-Valdez (Dumont, N.J.), Nick Bell (Farmington, Maine), Griffith Heath (Scarborough, Maine), Noel Heath (Scarborough, Maine), Aaron Sanborn (Windham, Maine), Sam Tooley (Camden, Maine), and Jackson Widerstrom (South Berwick, Maine). Munyaneza, a Gorham High School graduate, adds another Maine product to the group.
Seven of the eight newcomers hail from Maine, with six different communities across the state represented. Avila-Valdez, a Dumont High School graduate, rounds out the class as the lone New Jersey native. The group also includes former Scarborough High School teammates Griffith Heath and Noel Heath.
The newcomer class features several student-athletes pursuing careers in health and wellness. Avila-Valdez is studying exercise science/pre-physical therapy, Bell is enrolled in the pre-chiropractic program, Griffith Heath is majoring in medical biology/pre-physician assistant, and Noel Heath is pursuing a medical biology degree. Sanborn is studying business, Tooley is majoring in criminal justice, and Widerstrom enters Saint Joseph’s undeclared.
The Monks’ 2026 schedule began with the NCAA Regional Preview at the Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland on September 5. Saint Joseph’s continues its season at the Maine State Meet on September 19, followed by trips to Colby-Sawyer on October 4 and Franklin Pierce on October 9. The second annual Coach Dann Runnin’ Monk Classic serves as the Monks’ lone home meet on October 17. Saint Joseph’s begins its GNAC title defense at Colby-Sawyer’s Morris Trail on November 1 before returning to Wainwright for the NCAA East Regional on November 14. The Monks have captured two of the last three GNAC championships, including the 2025 crown with 44 points.
Meet the 2026 Men's Cross Country NewcomerS
