Walsh University Alum Zach Kreft ('23) joined the coaching staff in June of 2023 as the Volunteer Assistant Coach for Men's Cross Country and Track and Field. During his time as a Student-Athlete with the Cavaliers (2022-2023), Kreft earned 4 All-American honors, 2 regional athlete of the year awards, 1 cross country regional title, 5 individual G-MAC titles, 8 school records, and the G-MAC Male Collegiate Achievement Award. Aside from individual honors, Kreft helped the team to its 5th cross country G-MAC title, a 3rd place regional finish, and an 18th place finish at the NCAA XC National meet tying the program's highest finish.
Kreft graduated from the University of Notre Dame in the spring of 2022 after competing for the Fighting Irish for four years. During his time with the Irish, Kreft was a part of multiple ACC championship teams. During his time with Notre Dame, the men's team had multiple top 10 performances at the NCAA XC National meet with their highest finish of runner-up in 2020. Kreft earned regional honors in the spring of 2022 qualifying for the NCAA East Regional meet in track with the steeplechase. Kreft set many personal records during his time with the Irish from the mile all the way up to 8k- he would go on to break every personal best of his when joining the Cavaliers in 2022.
As a high school student athlete at Buckeye Valley High School, Kreft won 4 state championships, 4 regional titles, 8 district titles, and 16 conference titles. Kreft competed in the Footlocker cross country national meet in 2017 placing 12th which earned him All-American honors. Kreft also went on to run the number 1 time in Ohio high school history for its time (all divisions) on the grass clocking 14:29.95 over the 5k distance in September of 2017. The 14:29.95 stood as the fastest time in the nation that fall of all high school athletes. Kreft helped lead the barons to 4 conference championships, 2 district titles, and 2 state meet appearances where the boy's finished 9th which marked the highest placing in school history. Kreft currently holds 5 schools records at Buckeye Valley in the 5k (XC), 800, 1600, 3200, and 4x800.
