Marlborough, MASS.- MIT lands in the top spot in the 2025 NEWMAC Men’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll, collecting eight first-place votes. MIT is under the direction of Riley Macon, who led the Engineers to the program’s 26th straight NEWMAC Championship last season, along with an NCAA East Regional Championship. The Engineers are currently ranked No. 11 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national ranking, and No. 2 in the East Region. They return the past three NEWMAC Rookies of the Year in Renne Cooper, Yichen Sun and Jake Cobb. Most recently, Sun and Cooper finished with nearly identical times to lead MIT at the Connecticut College Invitational. Sun took 11th in 24:21.02, with Cooper in at 24:21.13 to finish 12th.
Landing in the second slot was WPI, who also nabbed a first-place vote. The Engineers, who took second place at the 2024 NEWMAC Championship, are led by head coach Brian Chabot. Currently ranked No. 5 in the East Region, the Engineers will look to several key runners, including Matthew Meerdink, who led the Engineers with a 48th place finish at the Connecticut College Invite. Drew O’Reilly also paced the Engineers at the Paul Short run, while Everett Mosher led the Engineers at Wesleyan’s Cardinal Invitational.
Babson College, coached by Russ Brennen, lands in the third spot, after also finishing third in the 2024 NEWMAC Championship. Babson is ranked No. 6 in the East Region, and feature top returner Nick Yacoub, who earned All-NEWMAC honors with a 13th-place finish at the 2024 NEWMAC Championship. The sophomore recently registered a career-best time at the Connecticut College invite on October 18, running the 8k race in 24:56. Brian Ronayne also had a personal best time of 25:46 at the same race.
Coming in at the fourth spot is Coast Guard, who is led by Greg Ahnrud. The Bears are ranked No. 9 in the Mideast Region and are led by runners Paul Hobbs and Brendan Fant. Hobbs won the Purchase Invite to open this season, and recently ran the fastest Academy time at Harkness Park, finishing the Connecticut College Invite 8K in 25:04. Fant finished right behind at 25:05, a personal-best.
Led by head coach Anna Steinman, Springfield has nabbed the fifth spot, coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2024 NEWMAC Championship. Andrew Petropulos has paced the Pride at several races this season, most recently leading Springfield at the Connecticut College Invite with a time of 26:55.52.
In the six slot is Wheaton College. Coached by Alexander Evans, the Lyons are coming off a sixth-place finish at the 2024 NEWMAC Championship. Senior Nick Lacroix ran a personal record time of 26:35.90 at his most recent race at the Connecticut College Invite, and has improved his time at each race this season for Wheaton.
Clark University lands in seventh place, also finishing seventh in the 2024 NEWMAC Championship. The scarlet and white are led by Andrea Keklak. Sophomore Summit Smoker led the Cougars with a 69th-place finish, clocking in at 26:35.5 at the Connecticut College Invite.
Emerson College ranks eighth in the poll. Coached by Brandon Fox, the Lions finished eighth at last year’s NEWMAC Championship. Senior John Lanza recorded the first win of his collegiate career at at the Coach Dann Runnin' Monks Classic on October 18. Lanza completed the eight-kilometer course in 29:02.6.
Coached by Kacie Gallo, Salve Regina rounds out the poll in ninth place. At their most recent race, Cole Smith finished 43rd with the top Seahawk time and a personal best of 28:08.00 at the 8k Runnin' Monks Classic.
The NEWMAC Cross Country Championship will take place on Saturday, November 1.
2025 NEWMAC Men’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches Poll
1. MIT (8)
2. WPI (1)
3. Babson
4. Coast Guard
5. Springfield
6. Wheaton
7. Clark
8. Emerson
9. Salve Regina
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.