Horizon League Unveils 2025 #HLXC Athlete of the Year and Sportsmanship Awards
Matt St. Charles
INDIANAPOLIS (December 4, 2025) - The Horizon League revealed our 2025 #HLXC Athlete of the Year and Sportsmanship Award winners on Thursday. The awards were voted on by the League's head coaches.
Youngstown State’s McKinley Fielding was named the Horizon League Female Athlete of the Year and Green Bay’s Noah Jahnke was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year. Clay Taylor of Green Bay and Claire Hunt of Detroit Mercy took home the League's Sportsmanship Awards.
Dig Deeper:
- Jahnke won the 2025 Men’s Horizon League XC title, finishing nine seconds ahead of the competition. He was also the top Horizon League finisher at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, finishing 24th and breaking his own school 10K record. (30:29).
- Fielding won the 2025 Women’s Horizon League XC Championship, putting up a 6K time of 20:10.9, beating the competition by 36 seconds.
- The Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Sportsmanship is defined as behavior exhibited during competition by student-athletes based on values, respect and integrity.
2025 Horizon League Cross Country Award Winners
Female Athlete of the Year: McKinley Fielding, Youngstown State
Male Athlete of the Year: Noah Jahnke, Green Bay
Sportsmanship Awards: Claire Hunt, Detroit Mercy & Clay Taylor, Green Bay
Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Claire Hunt, Detroit Mercy*
Grace Beyer, Green Bay
Anne May, Oakland
Lydia Carrell, Purdue Fort Wayne
Nicholas Fringer, Detroit Mercy
Clay Taylor, Green Bay*
Luke Shappell, IU Indianapolis
Joseph Shaya, Oakland
Colten Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne