Marlborough, MASS.- Defending NCAA National Champion MIT lands in the top spot in the 2025 NEWMAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll, collecting 11 first-place votes. MIT also won its 17th-straight NEWMAC Championship and an NCAA East Regional crown last season. The Engineers, under the direction of head coach Riley Macon, are currently ranked No. 2 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll, and No. 1 in the East Region. They return 13 runners from last season, including NEWMAC Athlete of the Year Kate Sanderson and NEWMAC Rookie of the Year Ava Hartman. Gillian Roeder also returns after leading the Engineers at their most recent race with a seventh-place finish at the Connecticut College Invitational, finishing with a 6K time of 21:04.44.
Landing in the second slot with the remaining first-place vote is the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Led by Greg Ahnrud, the Bears finished as runners-up in the 2024 NEWMAC Championship and are currently ranked No. 7 in the Mideast Region. They return several key contributors from a season ago, headlined by Claire Semerod, who was a NEWMAC All-Conference finisher last season. Semerod has a string of standout performances this season, including running a new personal best of 21:09 at the Connecticut College Invitational last weekend. Lauren Mellon also returns after an All-Conference performance the previous year.
Wellesley College, currently ranked fifth in the East Region, was voted in at the third spot and is led by veteran head coach Phil Jennings. The Blue finished fifth at the 2025 NEWMAC Championships and is returning 2024 first-team All-NEWMAC runner Ella Whinney. Whinney led the Blue to wins at the Wellesley Invitational and Pop Crowell Invitational this season. At their latest race, the Connecticut College Invitational, Whinney led the Blue with a time of 22:05.88. Classmate Emily Brydges also had a top-100 finish, breaking a personal record by less than a second with a time of 22:21.54.
The fourth spot goes to Smith College, who finished third at the 2024 NEWMAC Championship. The Bears are coached by Jack Wood, and feature a young squad led by 2024 All-Conference performer junior Lucy Kreipke. First-year Avery Maiese also paced the Bears with a time of 23:23.5 at the Connecticut College Invitational last weekend.
Springfield College, led by head coach Anna Steinman, has nabbed the fifth spot after a sixth-place finish at the NEWMAC Championship in 2024. Kristina Kyle has paced the Pride at numerous races this season, including the Connecticut College Invitational, where she led the Pride with a seventh-place finish, crossing the line at 22:35.60.
Babson College, coached by Russ Brennen, lands in the sixth spot, after finishing seventh in the 2024 NEWMAC Championship. Babson is currently ranked No. 10 in the East Region. Sophomore Sophia Draxler has been a consistent performer for the Beavers, and recently ran a career-best time of 23:32 at the Connecticut College Invitational.
WPI, led by head coach Brian Chabot, claims the seventh spot in the poll after a tenth-place finish in last season's NEWMAC Championship. Sophia Reynolds paced the Crimson and Gray with a time of 23:39.7 at the Connecticut College Invitational.
Wheaton College, coached by Alexander Evans, is coming off a twelfth-place finish at the 2024 NEWMAC Championship and takes the eighth spot in the poll. Leading the Lyon standouts this season is Jaz Vanderhoof, who led Wheaton in the women's Blue race at the Connecticut College Invitational, placing 128th overall with a mark of 22:58.92.
Salve Regina University comes in at the ninth spot following a ninth-place finish at last season's NEWMAC Championship race. Coached by Kacie Gallo, the Seahawks have been led all season by Anna Weygang. At their most recent race, Weygang crossed the line first in the women's 5k at the Western New England Golden Bears Invitational with a time of 22:10.54, setting a personal best and a school record.
Mount Holyoke College rounds out the top ten in the poll. The Lyons finished fourth at the 2024 NEWMAC Championship and are once again led by head coach Jennifer Hartshorn. Senior Sarah West led the Lyons at their most recent race, finishing the 6K Connecticut College Invitational in 24:43.5, 126th-fastest in a field of 354 runners.
Clark University and Emerson College tied for the eleventh spot in the poll. Clark, coached by Andrea Keklak, finished eighth in last season's NEWMAC Championship. They have been led all season by junior Nicole Steele. Steele was recently the top finisher for Clark at the Connecticut College Invitational, crossing the line in 24:54.9.
Emerson is coached by Brandon Fox and finished eleventh at last season's championship. The Lions are led by a 2024 All-Conference performer, Yasmin Defne Dadikhi, who has won three individual titles this season, including two consecutive crowns as she enters the NEWMAC Championship. Most recently, Defne Dadikhi won the Coach Dann Runnin' Monks Classic, cruising to a win with a margin of over two minutes as she completed the 6K course in 23:28.9.
The NEWMAC Cross Country Championship will take place on Saturday, November 1.
2025 NEWMAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches Poll
1. MIT (11)
2. Coast Guard (1)
3. Wellesley
4. Smith
5. Springfield
6. Babson
7. WPI
8. Wheaton
9. Salve Regina
10. Mount Holyoke
T11. Clark
T11. Emerson
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.