PITMAN, NJ --- Ramapo College senior Dale Leonard (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) has been named the NJAC Runner of the Year while Rowan University freshman Kayla Romanoski (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) earned Rookie of the Year status for the 2026 season.
 
Additionally, The College of New Jersey  head coach Justin Lindsey and his staff earn Coaching Staff of the Year honors based on a vote of the league’s head coaches.
 
Leonard and Romanoski highlight the 14-member NJAC women’s cross country all-
conference team. All honors were determined based on placing at the championship meet, which was conducted at TCNJ on Saturday, Oct. 31.
 
Leonard captured her second career individual title, becoming the first NJAC woman to win in both her freshman and senior seasons. She ran a 21:54 on the 6K course, winning by 10 seconds over the runner-up. Leonard capped a stellar four years at the NJAC meet, as she finished as a four-time All-Conference First Team runner in addition to her two individual titles.
 
Romanoski earned NJAC Rookie of the Year recognition with an impressive ninth-place finish at the conference championship, clocking 22:55. The West Deptford native helped lead Rowan to a runner-up finish with her strong performance, and was the fourth Prof to cross the line. Her ninth-place finish also secured All-Conference Second Team accolades.
 
The Lions coaching staff of Justin Lindsey, Michael Walker, Lucia Garcia-Beltran, Salini Iyer, and Abigail Pfaff earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors after guiding the Lions to the conference championship with 32 points. The staff mentored five all-conference runners, including four total First Team honorees and one Second Team runner, en route to the program’s 36th NJAC title.