It’s not often that you hear of school records getting broken. For a program as successful as Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) cross-country, which has won three NCAA national titles since 2019, it is especially less frequent. And yet, Jack Stein PO ’26 has etched his name into the P-P cross-country history books with a new record.
On Sept. 27 at the UC Riverside Invitational, Stein set a new program record of 23:45.4 for the 8-kilometer run, breaking the previous record by 7 seconds and coming within 5 seconds of the men’s SCIAC conference record in the process.
This achievement is a milestone for Stein, who was already an established runner in Piedmont, CA, before coming to Pomona. At Piedmont High School, he had received numerous accolades in cross-country and track and field, in addition to setting two school records in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter races.
Stein’s recent record for the Sagehens has prompted a moment of reflection for the P-P cross-country team, all of whom are very proud of his accomplishment. Head coach Emma DeLira expressed her excitement about Stein’s record and his start to the 2025 season.
“It [was] something he was hoping to achieve this season,” DeLira said. “It’s great to see all [the] years of hard work he has put in. It’s reached the point where he is able to break a very prestigious school record. Breaking the 24-minute barrier is an amazing accomplishment.”
Stein’s history with Pomona-Pitzer athletics is robust. Just last track season, Stein finished second in the 10-kilometer race at the SCIAC track and field championships with a time of 30:57.88.
Last fall, he placed fourth at the SCIAC championships with a time of 24:42.6 and sixth at the NCAA regional meet where he finished with a time of 24:22.6. On top of that, Stein was one of three Sagehens who received All-American honors at last year’s Cross Country NCAA Championships, where he finished 28th.
According to Stein, consistency has afforded him great success in cross-country. Since his freshman year, Stein has aimed to be nationally competitive in cross-country. Now, as a senior, he has finally realized his vision.
“It’s been a long time coming … four years of steady growth to knock my time down,” Stein said. “It’s an honor to hold [the] record. To think that I have the fastest 8K in the program’s history is special.”
Stein’s progress in cross-country is observable throughout his years as a Sagehen. He broke his junior year personal best by 37 seconds, which he had set at the NCAA Cross Country Regional meet. In 2023, Stein finished eighth in SCIAC.
On top of Stein’s impressive stats and personal achievements, DeLira attested to his importance as a low scorer. In cross country, each individual’s score corresponds to their place in the race, and the top five runners on each team contribute to the team’s overall score. In the postseason this is especially crucial, given the heightened competition.
“With cross-country, the team component is very important,” she said. “And when you have a low-stick like Stein … someone [who is] in the talks of being a top-ten, even top-five individual in [Division III] … it gives the team confidence moving forward.”
Stein’s leadership has proven crucial for the P-P cross-country team. Teammate Nate Wehner PO ’28 spoke about Stein’s team-focused mindset that is a core part of his character as a leader.
“When it gets tough in a race, ultimately, what you lean back on is your team, and Stein is one of the biggest team players you’ll ever meet,” Wehner said.
DeLira also spoke on how the rest of the team is able to draw on Stein’s recent achievement.
“[They say] ‘if Stein can do this, we can do this as well,’” she said. “It gives the younger guys on the team [the] awareness that each year … you keep getting better and better.”
While the Sagehens are feeling the boost from Stein’s accomplishments, they are eager to continue building on this momentum.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, P-P hosted the 16th annual Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country Invite. The Sagehens placed third overall amongst some strong Division II and NAIA competition. Stein and teammates Amir Barkan CG ’26, Peter Neid PO ’27 and Jefferson Wright PO ’28 all placed in the top 15.
Despite their season accomplishments thus far, Stein and company are remaining poised, remembering when their efforts count the most.
“Cross-country is funny,” Stein said. “These meets leading up to the post-season are important, but, at the end of the day, all that matters is what you run in November. You don’t want to burn out [or] get too excited too early. [We must] keep our mind on the NCAA.”
This veteran patience, among other things, is what makes Stein a prominent leader on the P-P cross-country team. Wehner commented on Stein’s influence on the team since becoming a Sagehen himself.
“As his teammate, you see the consistent work he puts in year after year,” Wehner said. “His improvements this year are a culmination of the 90 plus mile weeks he’s been logging since his sophomore year.”
The accolades may speak for themselves, but Stein is looking to be remembered for more than just his achievements on the course.
“I am trying to do my best and leave a legacy that is not only athletic, but also [about] being a good leader and being someone who is a part of [the] community,” Stein said.
“Pomona-Pitzer men’s cross-country … we’re just a community of guys that all have a common interest. That’s a big part of the legacy I want to [leave] — being a well-rounded individual.”
Stein and Pomona-Pitzer cross-country’s next meet will be on Oct. 18, where they will travel to Rock Island, Illinois for the Augustana Cross Country Invite.
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