Official 2025 NESCAC XC Thread

How dare you say that the Tufts Jumbos are the most overrated team in the 'cac, especially when you seem well aware that they are now under the wing of famed 4:06 miler Jamie Norton, who will obviously have the entire team running 4:06 by the end of the season. Under Norton, the Jumbos obviously should be considered the jumbo-sized favorites for the title.

Now, what about this mass exodus at Amherst?

Just bumping the thread as we head into the start of the season. Which teams are looking good after the summer training block? Who has been putting in the miles and pounding the pavement?

any new studs coming in who can make an immediate impact? always fun to see how the recruiting played out - any new names on the mens side to keep an eye on fellas?

Well said

Well, the Wesleyan women were second in 1983 and won in 1984, so yes, Wesleyan has been a factor in NESCAC history.

wrap it up unc

Bates has run their annual 2 mile time trial to kick off the season, and man they are something special. They had 5 guys under 9:10, led by SO Max Hoffman 9:03. They sure seem to know how to put it together in meaningless races that are over half the championship distance! This may be the year they finish in the top half of the 'Cac, or even get a guy on the All-Nescac 2nd Team! Go Bobcats. Love, Coach Blanch.

6.7/10 rage bait

Only a few more days until the start of the season, so time to see what we have up first next weekend.

Trinity Bantam Invite (Tufts, Trinity, CC)

Only a 5k, but a good chance to see Tufts in action and get a sense of whether they are as good as they look on paper. Trinity and CC will likely be easy pickings for the Jumbos, but the early start should give a sense of whether either can potentially make a step up from the bottom of the nescac at the moment. This will be a particularly interesting race for Tufts internally, and should give us a sense of what to expect in terms of their order and the tightness of their top 5. Expect some of their recruits to make the step up as they enter the season.

Predicted winner: Tufts

Little Threes (Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan)

Likely the big showdown of the weekend, even as an opening race for all the teams involved. While not indicative for the season as a whole, this one should give a good sense of where all three teams are coming off the summer, with Amherst looking to retain its grip on the title while Williams looks to retake it after a number of losses. This will be a particularly indicative race for Wesleyan, who will be looking to steal the title out from under both Amherst and Williams, and for incoming recruits, giving us a first look at whether any have the potential to prove a difference maker later in the season.

Predicted Winner: Amherst

CBB Tri-Meet (Colby, Bowdoin, Bates)

The big bash is back. These three are all close in both the paper rankings and in my personal rankings, and I expect we'll see an intense battle between these three throughout the season. If everything holds, whoever wins will likely have a real shot at qualification for nationals. Colby's strong recruiting class will be the real question mark of this race and give a sense of whether Colby will have the potential to separate themselves from Bowdoin and Bates.

Predicted Winner: Colby

Others: Hamilton (off week), Middlebury (Silloway Maple Syrup Challenge)

yeah Colby is looking really really good. They are gonna dominate these Maine teams and have a solid chance in November. All other Maine teams just have a rebuilding year.

I find it interesting that Colby would beat bates given Bates’ very good results at their time trial. Maybe I’m missing something but Colby likely doesn’t have 5 guys going sub 9:10 for 2 miles(or 9:30 for that matter)

Preview of next weekend's races:

Trinity Invite: Wickham Park is known by many a Connecticut runner as a fickle foe. This should give Trinity and Conn College a hometown advantage over Tufts. Tufts runs in the city, known for its many intersections/crosswalks. This means the Jumbos have awful elapsed times on their runs. Unfortunately for them, cross country races do not have intersections, so they will have to contend with that. Both Trinity and Conn are at the back of the Nescac, but maybe the aura of their former glory (Jeff Love and Travis Martin) can help them displace 1 or 2 Tufts runners. The Jumbos will still win.

CBB Tri Meet: This meet only exists because these teams are so damn far from the rest of the NESCAC. 2 weekends later, they are all running in the Maine State Meet (effectively the same competition). So whatever happens here doesn't matter. One or two or all of these teams might tempo this race anyway. Colby does seem to be the favorite from Maine, but who knows how the 5 hour drive to NESCACs will bode for them this November. Bates has been looking pretty good and will give the Mules a run for their money.

Little Three Championship: This race has been getting tighter and tighter every year, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. I don't think anyone wants to see Williams win, except for the Williams Cronies. Wesleyan will still have their work cut out for them, being a bit behind two strong NESCAC teams. Amherst will likely be on top, but this should be the most interesting race of the weekend.

Middlebury, the only Vermont team in the NESCAC, is quietly racing at the Maple Syrup Challenge. No other NESCAC team will be there, so this will give Mid a solid confidence boost.

Hamilton: Apparently Hamilton doesn't think they need to race this weekend. Maybe take some hints from the rest of the conference and you'll do better

The Amherst men will be looking to repeat as Little Three Champions for only the fourth time in the hundred year history of the competition (1928-30, 2017-18). The Wesleyan men last won in 1983 led by Sebastian Junger; they previously won sixteen of seventeen from 1950-67 led by men such as Lew Thorgerson, Spike Paranya (father of Karl), Jeff Galloway, and Amby Burfoot. Bill Rodgers '70 never ran on a winning Little Three XC team.

Liam Calhoun will be the only red Jersey on the all NESCAC team. 4 purple jerseys. Mark my words.

Amherst is washed lmao

Y'all really glazed Amerherst in this thread...can't even beat Wesleyan. I'm sure they were missing guys but c'mon, Williams put 4 guys in front of their #2. Decent showing from returners from last year's nationals squad, DeNatale is back, and they have good frosh. Hard to see anyone except maybe Tufts beating them this year.

It’s not really fair to pretend like Wesleyan isn’t a good squad though. Liam Calhoun is arguably the favorite to win nescacs and they raced without their second man Alex Kermath today. They’re probably going to be very deep towards the end of the season and they did beat Amherst last year too.

Some are calling him The Hunter

Looks like Jamie Norton is bringing Tufts to PVC this year so it won't just be a dual meet vs RPI like it has been recently. Good chance to see the Jumbos go at the Ephs