MESA MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY AIMS FOR BREAKTHROUGH AT NJCAA NATIONALS
Thursday Novemeber 6, 2025 - 10:00 p.m. | Dylan DeVlieger
The Mesa Community College Men's Cross Country team heads to Fort Dodge, Iowa on Saturday with momentum and belief after finishing as the NJCAA Region I Runner-Up. The T-Birds have hovered near the top of the national rankings all fall, peaking at No. 2 in the preseason and remaining a consistent top-six program throughout the year.
Mesa has been driven by the steady leadership and front-running presence of Cal Schnepf, who has earned three ACCAC DII Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week honors this season. His ability to anchor the lineup and produce big races has elevated the entire roster. Head coach Daniel Pescador highlighted just how impactful Schnepf has been.
"Cal has been great and has had a phenomenal year, running a big PR at Riverside! I do believe his consistency has really helped and influenced our team. He's been a great leader by example, and it's helped that the other guys can lean on him. They know that not only will he be consistently up with the lead group, it gives them the confidence that they can be up there as well since they are all training together and close to each other in workouts. Cal is at a different confidence level and he knows he can be with that top 5 at nationals, and that will only help the team," said Pescador.
As a program, Mesa has been one of the most reliably competitive teams in the nation, recording top-five finishes at nationals in three of the last four years. Yet the T-Birds have still been searching for the breakthrough performance that results in a national title. Pescador acknowledged the challenge, and how close the group has been.
"We have been so agonizingly close these last several years. While it has come with heartbreak, we see the silver lining that we are consistently in the top 5 every year. Most teams aim for one good year in the top 5, whereas we are there every year. It's a big testament to the work that everyone puts in, and the buy-in to why they choose to come to Mesa. I am very proud of the success I have built in 10 years with the program. I believe this year it's going to take that extra bit of commitment and discomfort. When it gets hard at the 3.5 mile mark, what decisions will they make for the good of the team? If we execute that last mile the way we are capable of, I like our chances," said Pescador.
Mesa knows Saturday may come down to seconds, moments where execution, toughness, and a willingness to push through discomfort could be the difference between finally capturing a national championship or settling for another top-five finish. That urgency has been a point of emphasis in training.
"We have been emphasizing dealing with the pain and discomfort, because it will all be worth it once they cross that finish line. We have been emphasizing closing that last mile efficiently, being there in the end with 600 meters to go, and understanding that every jersey down the home stretch matters. We told them it's going to take everyone, collectively as a group," said Pescador.
The T-Birds head to Fort Dodge poised, experienced, and hungry. Ready to chase the program's first national title and turn years of close calls into championship history.