Manchester University senior Gavin Byerly, of Huntington, Ind., has been named the 2025-26 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (HCAC) Male Athlete of the Year.
The HCAC consists of 10 universities that compete in a conference championship at the end of each sport season. Byerly competed in cross country and both indoor and outdoor track and field his senior year at Manchester, breaking school records, receiving prestigious awards and dominating talented race fields.
Byerly’s year-long reign started in Fall 2025 in the cross-country season, winning the HCAC Championship and earning MVP honors among all other athletes in the HCAC. Byerly then competed in the Great Lakes Regional meet, earning the Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year, marking the first time in Manchester University history that a runner has received this award.
Byerly continued to the national stage, competing among the best Division III runners in the nation at Spartanburg, S.C. Byerly earned First Team All-American, placing 39th in a field of 291 runners.
Byerly carried his momentum to the winter season, winning the 800-meter run, 1 mile run and 3000-meter run at the HCAC Indoor Championship. His performances earned him Distance Runner of the Year for the conference and All-Region honors.
Entering his final athletic season in the Spring semester, Byerly once again achieved three victories at the HCAC Outdoor Championship, winning the 800m, 1500m and 3000m meter runs. He also received another Distance Runner of the Year award. Byerly then advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field DIII Championship, where he placed sixth in the 1500m, earning him All-American honors.
Byerly’s numerous conference championships, regional honors, and national performances contribute to his historic 2025-26 athletic season. He graduated this spring with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration.
Press release written by communications intern Chris Rohr.
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