Dominic Flitcraft racing at the 2025 PAC XC Championships

Jacob Derry

Flitcraft Eyes a Second PAC Title, with Family Along for the Ride

By Jack Sacco, Media & Data Analytics Intern

Dominic Flitcraft has two opportunities that most collegiate runners never get. At the Presidents’ Athletic Conference cross country championships October 31, he can become a two-time PAC champion. And he gets to do it with a pair of teammates who have been with him through the whole journey, his brothers Nico and Antony.

Dominic has quickly become one of W&J’s all-time best male runners. He is a three-time All-PAC First Team honoree and won last season’s PAC Individual Championship, the first President to do so in the men’s field since Harley Moyer ‘19 in 2018. This weekend, he has a chance to prove that title was only the beginning.

Running has been a family affair for Dominic since the start. He began in middle school on a team coached by his parents.

“It was something that kept me moving around and kept me out of the house. Then I got to high school and started to realize that this was something I enjoyed and loved,” Dominic said. “And after my sophomore year, where I had been told that I could have a lot of success if I started putting more time and effort in, I decided to see what it was about. So, I dedicated the next year and a half to two years into it.”

The decision paid off. Dominic became a PIAA state medalist in both cross country and track and field for Hopewell High School. College coaches took notice.

None pursued him harder than Derek Workman, then W&J’s head coach for cross country and track and field.

“Coach Workman had come to every one of my high school meets from the time I was a junior through my senior year,” Dominic said. “He made it clear that I could do some big things in D-III running. Specifically in the PAC.”

Andy Upton, who took over the program and has coached Dominic throughout his college career, said Dominic’s reputation was known well around the conference.

“For Dom, there was no mistake about it,” Upton said. “I was in my last year at Bethany and even when I was there everybody was aware who Dom Flitcraft was. He had a very successful high school career and he has not disappointed since coming here.”

It didn’t take long for Dominic to make his mark. As a freshman, he finished runner-up at the 2023 PAC Championship, earning PAC Newcomer of the Year and All-PAC First Team honors. He later earned All-Region status as well.

In 2024, he was bumped to third at the PAC Championship, but he bounced back with a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional. That earned him All-Region honors again and a trip to the National Championships.

Then came the breakthrough. Dominic became the 2025 PAC Champion and made another trip to the National Championships. He credits former teammates Brock Pennington ‘25 and Julian Paul ‘25, who pushed him in his first two seasons.

“After [Pennington and Paul] graduated, we had talked about me becoming a PAC champion because we needed to take it back for the school. Working with [assistant coach Justin Simpson] has also helped me go so much further than I’d ever thought possible. Higher mileage, higher intensity workouts, all those things just added to it,” Dominic said.

Dominic Flitcraft (middle) running with Brock Pennington (left) and Julian Paul (right)

Upton said that group set the tone early.

“When he finished second in the conference as a freshman, he was around some really good runners who were juniors that year, and who are all over our record book. They were not only great runners, but great leaders,” Upton said.

Having watched Pennington and Paul lead, Dominic has stepped into that role himself.

“He’s always been a top notch lead by example person, and I would say this year he has taken more ownership of that vocal side of things. He gets things organized behind the scenes when coaches aren’t around,” Upton said.

Dominic is glad he chose W&J and the PAC.

“I personally had the drive to go D-I, but Division III is still highly competitive, which is something that a lot of people understand and realize. Now that I’m here, I love it. I’ve gotten further than I ever thought possible and it’s incredible, so far,” Dominic said.

Dominic Flitcraft (middle right) holding NCAA Regionals medal with Chloe LoCastro (left), Maria Gilles (middle left) and Claire Anderson (right)

He also has the comfort of two younger brothers on the roster. Junior Nico Flitcraft and freshman Antony Flitcraft don’t just get to witness his success; they get to share in it. The competition among the brothers extends well beyond the course.

“Whether it’s backyard basketball, anything, we are always pushing each other to be the best we possibly can. Weight room, training, everything we do,” Dominic said.

The younger brothers feel a tremendous sense of pride in his success.

“Dom’s success has brought not only me joy, but everyone in our family,” Antony said. “His success is a huge motivator for all of us and we are so proud of him.”

“It’s amazing to see your sibling reach such heights,” Nico added. “To our family there is so much pride. My younger sibling and parents seeing Dom do the things he does while balancing academics and a leadership role is everything a parent aspires for their kid.”

Both brothers said they aspire to follow in Dominic’s footsteps by breaking records and getting their names on plaques. They will look to take that path together, albeit as two different personalities.

“It’s just a good family,” Upton said. “Nico brings that different kind of energy to the program than the other two Flitcrafts.”

The more reserved younger brother, Antony, has been slowed by injury this season.

“Antony has a bright future in front of him as well. Unfortunately, he’s been a little banged up this year, so we’re not truly getting to see what he can do, but he started off on fire and looked great,” Upton said. “We think we have something there. Having all three of them is great. They are class acts and good people.”

Now Dominic is on the verge of rarefied air at W&J. A second individual title would make him the third President to win multiple PAC Championships in cross country, joining Moyer (2017 and 2018) and Matthew Rudzki ‘08 (2005 and 2007).

“We have a strong history of good distance runners,” Upton said. “He’s knocking on the door with those guys. He’s a two-time national qualifier, looking to make it a third time. I think that’s an accolade that helps set him apart from other runners in program history and in the history of the PAC. I think that would help etch him in as not only one of the best runners here at W&J, but also in the history of the conference.”

That legacy is something Dominic is hungry for himself.

“I want my name to be solidified in school history and I want to be the best runner that the PAC’s ever had, distance-wise,” Dominic said.

Some could argue he has already earned a place in that conversation. On Saturday, in Canfield, Ohio, he gets the chance to make it undeniable.