Women's Cross Country: 2025 Season Outlook

Links: 2025 Roster | 2025 Schedule | 2025 Coaches | Individual Results

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Success always follows the Williams College women's cross country program.

The Ephs have won a NESCAC-leading 21 conference titles and emerged victorious during the 2002, 2004 and 2015 NCAA Division III Championships. The 2024 team won the NESCAC Championship for the fifth year in a row, while placing first and third, respectively, during the regional and national championship meets, with the third-place performance being tied for the program's best finish at the NCAA Championship since 2015.

"Cross country is a team sport and being able to work together in races and workouts is helpful in reaching our goals," said Fiona Picone '26. "Building a strong team athletically requires building meaningful connections among each other on and off the course. If we continue to foster a culture of love and support for each other, there is a great deal of potential for what we can achieve as a team come championship season."

The 2025 season starts with the Little Three Championship on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the UMass Cross Country Course in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Ephs will travel to Vassar in Poughkeepsie, New York, on Saturday, Sept. 13, for the Ron Stonitsch Invitational, and then the unit hosts the Purple Valley Classic/Pete Farwell Alumni Race during senior day on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Mt. Greylock XC Loops.

"This year's team has a high ceiling," said third-year head coach Dusty Lopez. "We have a strong group of returners from last year, many of whom showed great ability in high-level meets. Along with that, the first years are talented and it is always exciting to see how they can add to the mix. We will aim to stay consistent, healthy and have some fun chasing our goals. If we are successful in that, the results should be good."

Tragically, on Jan. 7, 2025, first-year Alex Kemp of the men's cross country program passed away following a skiing accident the day prior at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, Massachusetts. Kemp's impact is still felt by the program and the team continues to hold him close in its heart, as he will never be forgotten.

"We will still have Alex on our minds throughout the season," said Lopez. "Everyone wants to keep Alex's memory and example strong within our group, both men and women. We continue to miss him dearly and will be running for him, looking for the joy and competitiveness he brought to the team every day."

The unit will also travel to Keene State (Oct. 4), Westfield State (Oct. 11) and Connecticut College (Oct. 18), and then the group will turn its attention to championship season. The NESCAC Championship will be hosted by Connecticut College on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Connecticut.

The NCAA Regional meet is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15, with St. Lawrence University serving as the host at the Ronald C. Hoffmann Cross Country Course in Canton, New York, and then the NCAA Championship will be held by Converse University on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Additionally, the USATF New England Championship takes place on Sunday, Nov. 9, at Highland Park in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

"We are going to have a great season," said Kate Swann '26. "Our team is incredibly close and dedicated to working diligently to grow as individual student-athletes and a team. We are coming off a successful cross country season last fall, winning the NESCAC Championship and placing third at the national meet. This competitive success inspires and motivates us to continue training and striving to reach challenging goals. The love we have for our team and teammates further motivates us to show up for each other on and off the course, so that we can all grow and succeed as student-athletes and people."

The Ephs return captains Peng, Picone and Swann, Eliana Zitrin '26 Hayley Ballard '27, Julia Brennan '27, Tamar Byl-Brann '27, Morgan Eigel '27, Jordan Liss-Riordan '27, Mariem Sayahi '27, Caitlin Striff-Cave '27, Uma Champe '28, Alice Culver '28, Hannah Cumming '28, Clara Gahm '28, Ella Kirkwood '28, Mirembe Mubanda '28, Hannah Prokup '28, Kate Tuttle '28 and Lily Yampolsky '28. The program is thrilled to welcome Annika Paluska '28, Linnea Cox '29, Estella Laird '29, Ginger Long '29 and Vivienne Namiot '29. Stephanie Mauer, Mike Blair and Barb Grossov return as assistant coaches.

Last season, Tuttle, Byl-Brann and Swann earned All-American, All-Region, All-New England and NESCAC All-Conference First Team laurels. Yampolsky and Peng garnered All-Region and All-New England accolades, while Liss-Riordan was recognized with All-Region honors. Yampolsky and Liss-Riordan and were named to the All-NESCAC Second Team. The squad also excelled in the classroom, taking home U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team laurels, while Byl-Brann, Liss-Riordan, Peng, Swann, Tuttle and Yampolsky were recognized as All-Academic Athletes.

"I am looking forward to our home meet, which is the Purple Valley Classic," said Peng. "Our home course at Mount Greylock High School is challenging, but beautiful, and running there is always a reminder of how lucky we are to train and race in the Purple Valley. Friends and family usually come out and alumni come back to race the 5 kilometer. It is always nice to bring many people together and it is a day where we feel the support from the Williams' community. I am also excited to see the impact our team can make at the NESCAC Championship meet and beyond."

 

Written by Trevor Wenners
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
tw11@williams.edu