WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Now that the fall 2025 cross country season is complete, the Ohio Athletic Conference announced the conference's special award winners. Being named the OAC Freshman of the Year for men's cross country was Capital's Justin Rona. 

Rona was consistently a top performer for the Comets in what was a banner year for the Capital men's cross country program. The year included a fifth place finish at the OAC Championships – the program's highest OAC finish since 1964 – and an 11th place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships – the program's highest regional finish in program history. 

Now after the season, Rona joins teammates Mikey Arnone and Chip Smith as OAC honorees for the 2025 season. Both Arnone and Smith placed in the top-20 at the OAC Championships, while Rona came in 32nd. 

This season Rona also added his name to both the top-20 program lists in the 8K and the 5K races. In the 8K, Rona recorded the 13th fastest time in program history, running 26:17.40. In the 5K, Rona boasts the third fastest time in program history of 15:49.90. The time came under the prior school record in the 5K distance, but trails two teammates who set a new record this season. 

This OAC Freshman of the Year award for Rona is believed to be the first postseason special award received by a men's cross country runner in program history.