INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Xander Heil of the Malone University cross country team has been chosen as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Athlete of the Week following his performance at the Tommy Evans Invitational. He is the first Pioneer to receive the conference's athlete of the week award in the 2026-27 academic year and is the first from men's cross country since 2020 (Zach Fresenko).
 
Heil, the senior from Uhrichsville, Ohio, led Malone to a third-place team finish at the event hosted by the University of Akron. He ran a 6K time of 18:34.4 to place fourth individually, but he was the top finishing student-athlete from the NCAA Division II ranks. His average mile time was 4:58.9 and it was a new personal best in the event.
 
The next race on the schedule for the Pioneers is the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Classic at Cedarville University on Friday, September 18.