Trevecca Cross Country | Novotny and Alsvig Lead Trojans Through the Heat at Southern Showcase

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Joshua Novotny and Ashley Alsvig led the Trevecca Nazarene University cross country teams through hot, humid and sunny conditions Friday at the Southern Showcase at John Hunt Cross Country Park.

The meet marked the first competition for the Trojans under new Head Coach Kate Bucknam and Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Joe Frye.

The Southern Showcase featured 64 schools from 16 states.

Novotny finished 23rd among 239 individuals with a time of 26:51.8. The junior already owns three of the top 26 performances on Trevecca's all-time 8K list, highlighted by his career-best 25:06.8 at the 2025 Gulf South Conference Championships. That mark ranks fourth in program history and makes Novotny the second-fastest 8K runner in Trevecca history.

Junior Caleb Hinson followed Novotny in 43rd with a time of 27:37.8.

Alsvig paced the Trevecca women, crossing the line 32nd in the 192-runner field with a time of 20:25.6. The senior recorded her career-best 5K time of 19:58.6 at the 2025 Southern Showcase.

Junior Sarah Arnold followed Alsvig, finishing 35th at 20:31.1. Arnold improved her time from the 2025 Southern Showcase by one minute, 49.5 seconds.

Freshmen Kate Brent and Sarah Penney opened their Trevecca careers with their first collegiate 5K times. Brent finished 46th in 20:52.0, while Penney placed 67th at 21:28.8.

The men's team finished 16th in the field of 28 while the women's finished 10th of 26.

Temperatures had already reached approximately 81 degrees with 72 percent humidity when the Trevecca men began their 8,000-meter race at approximately 8:45 a.m. The temperature climbed toward 84 degrees by the start of the women's 5,000-meter race at approximately 9:35 a.m.

Only a few clouds and little to no wind offered limited relief from the direct morning sun, providing important context for the Trojans' times on the open grass course.

MEET ESSENTIALS: SOUTHERN SHOWCASE

Hosted by Jacksonville State
Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
John Hunt Cross Country Park | Huntsville, Ala.

Men's Open 8K: 28 teams | 239 individuals
Women's Open 5K: 26 teams | 192 individuals

MEN'S 8,000 METERS | 16th of 28

PLACE	RUNNER	TIME	POINTS
23	Joshua Novotny	26:51.8	22
43	Caleb Hinson	27:37.8	40
100	John Dalton	28:47.5	94
108	Jack Jaeger	28:54.9	101
120	Caden Meeks	29:09.9	113
127	Joel White	29:19.7	119
183	Garrett Wilson	31:11.6	158

WOMEN'S 5,000 METERS | 10th of 26

PLACE	RUNNER	TIME	POINTS
32	Ashley Alsvig	20:25.6	30
35	Sarah Arnold	20:31.1	33
46	Kate Brent	20:52.0	44
67	Sarah Penney	21:28.8	63
136	Madeline Patton	23:54.8	125

MORE TROJAN NOTES

Novotny was the first Trojan across the line for the men at the Southern Showcase.
Alsvig improved three places from her finish in the 2025 Southern Showcase open race.
Arnold moved from 22:20.6 at the 2025 Southern Showcase to 20:31.1 Friday.
Jack Jaeger improved his Southern Showcase time by one minute, 49 seconds, moving from 30:43.9 in 2025 to 28:54.9 Friday.
Brent and Penney established their first collegiate 5K times in their Trevecca debuts.
Novotny's 25:06.8 at the 2025 GSC Championships ranks fourth on Trevecca's all-time 8K performance list.
Alsvig's career-best 19:58.6 came at the 2025 Southern Showcase.
The temperature was approximately 81 degrees with 72 percent humidity near the men's start.
The temperature climbed toward 84 degrees by the women's race, with humidity remaining in the mid-60-percent range.
The conditions provide additional context when comparing Friday's performances with previous Southern Showcase and Trevecca all-time marks.

UP NEXT: TROJANS HOST PRETORIUS INVITATIONAL AT THE HERMITAGE

Trevecca returns to competition Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Trojans host the Michael Pretorius Invitational at Andrew Jackson's The Hermitage Cross Country Course.

The men's 8,000-meter race begins at 8 a.m., followed by the women's 5,000-meter race at 9 a.m.

This is the first time Trevecca has competed or hosted a meet at The Hermitage. The event also serves as a preview of the 2026 Gulf South Conference Championships, which Trevecca will host at the same course Friday, Nov. 6.

The annual home meet honors former Trevecca cross country and track and field runner Michael Pretorius, who passed away July 31, 2022, following his second battle with cancer.

The Hermitage course is relatively flat with several rollers and an uphill run toward the finish. The layout provides viewing opportunities throughout the races, along with multiple timing splits.

Both the Michael Pretorius Invitational and the GSC Championships will be streamed on FloCollege.

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