How does Nikhil run 23:58 2 years ago then run over 40 seconds slower at nescacs? Williams is just so washed in all ways. They needed a sophomore to give them any glory, showing how they wash all of their upper classmen. They’ve been needing this defeat which will start the great downfall of Williams where tufts and the other nescacs will rise up and destroy those nerds.
what happened to Bowdoin at cacs? Looking back at results, Hopkinton and conn they had McDonough mid 24, Dunlap mid to high 25, and nzi, Boulanger, and covert all low 26. Plus downs had a great first couple races. Just seems like an issue unknown to what should have happened, seeing as they are a better team than a lot of who beat them.
Bowdoin has unfortunately acquired a reputation of choking in big races when it matters the most. It's an issue that dates back to the 201Xs and they haven't been able to figure it out, even with a coaching change. It's worth noting that their athletics department recap cited "illness," but that's also an easy blanket that ADs will frequently throw over a poor performance.
From Maine to New York, the ‘CAC runs wide, Different maps, same mountain pride. We’ve logged our miles, felt the pain, Now Regionals call — one more gain. Williams in East, Tufts out West, Bowdoin, Bates — all chasing best. Middlebury’s rolling Vermont hills sing, While Amherst eyes that Nationals ring. Different courses, different skies, But one league spirit never dies. The colors vary, but the goal’s the same: Punch that ticket, earn that name. Through wind and rain, through trail and track, We carry the heart of the NESCAC. So good luck, all — from 'Cards to Mules, From Ephs to Jumbos, keep it cool. Run smart, run strong, run brave and free, And may the mud gods grant your plea. Here’s to flights booked, buses packed — Let’s send a fleet of NESCAC teams to South Carolina. Good luck to every NESCAC team at Regionals — different races, one family.
I just smashed my TV in front of 30 Bobcat alumni at my Bates party because of the NCAA selection committee. My wife just took our crying kids and said they’re all spending the week at a hotel. This Bates XC team has ruined my life and my party. I can’t handle this anymore. Goodbye Bobcats. I am no longer a fan.
For Christ sakes, COLBY qualified!!! The same school that was dead in the water(ville, ME) a few years ago because their men’s team pissed off a bunch of no fun blue haired gender studies majors
This just in: the streets are saying that Tufts Jumbo Amokrane Aouchiche will be absorbing the souls of teammates who aren't racing nationals in an attempt to repeat as an XC All-American. When asked about this, 4:06 miler Jamie Norton not only confirmed these rumors but also expressed zero remorse, stating that "This is why we have such a large roster to begin with" and "How do you think I ran a 4:06 mile in the first place?" This seasonal satanic ritual will be taking place this Wednesday in Tufts' Gantcher Athletic Center.
This ritual has been famously performed by other NESCAC athletes in the past, including but not limited to Conn College's Jeffrey Love, Williams' Grahm Tuohy Gaydos, and Amherst's Stan Craig (not his real name btw).
As proud, god-fearing young men, the Wesleyan Cardinals will be protesting this heresy by ducking nationals.
can we please just beat one of those effing matthai twins. i don't care if it's eli or jonah or nikhil or even a woman but please beat those vlog vagabond vageenas. we should create a nescac superteam just to beat those loser dumb UW kids. also who is hosting the post nationals party bc Im tryna get hammered
From Maine to New York, the ‘CAC runs wide, Different maps, same mountain pride. We’ve logged our miles, felt the pain, Now Regionals call — one more gain. Williams in East, Tufts out West, Bowdoin, Bates — all chasing best. Middlebury’s rolling Vermont hills sing, While Amherst eyes that Nationals ring. Different courses, different skies, But one league spirit never dies. The colors vary, but the goal’s the same: Punch that ticket, earn that name. Through wind and rain, through trail and track, We carry the heart of the NESCAC. So good luck, all — from 'Cards to Mules, From Ephs to Jumbos, keep it cool. Run smart, run strong, run brave and free, And may the mud gods grant your plea. Here’s to flights booked, buses packed — Let’s send a fleet of NESCAC teams to South Carolina. Good luck to every NESCAC team at Regionals — different races, one family.
Heard that Jack Crum and the middlebury men will be hosting the post nationals party. Tufts is NOT invited and Colby is only invited if they promise not to objectify the women (of which there will be many) in attendance.
Amherst and Midd look pretty good this year, and I'd expect that at least one of their frosh will make a big step up when they reach the college ranks and likely be a key impact player in their success heading into champs. Midd could definitely make a big step up and it wouldn't surprise me if they're a dark horse heading into nescacs. This recruiting class from Amherst also has me put them confidently over Williams now when combined with their current team, they'll be dangerous for sure.
Williams has definitely brought in some good new talent but their freshmen traditionally struggle compared to their incoming performances from high school, and the team was injury prone last year. The likely return of Zanuck and Hardiman will certainly help, and Mamiya will definitely be an x-factor for the team given his end of season performances in track, but I don't know if Williams have the depth or talent to retain the grip they've had on the nescac over the past decade and it wouldn't surprise me if both Wesleyan and Amherst surpass them by the end of the season. I'd go 1) Tufts, 2) Amherst, 3) Middlebury, 4) Wesleyan, 5) Williams, 6) Bowdoin, 7) Colby, 8) Bates, 9) Conn, 10) Hamilton, 11) Trinity.
Got a lot of flak for this hot take earlier in the season, but it appears that the Williams men continue to struggle once they have to go up against bigger competition and have continued their slow descent down the team results table at nationals to 14th. Tufts with a bad day finishing only 7th, but Amherst finally beat off their choking allegations and showed up when it counted with a strong 11th place finish is definitely the highlight for the NESCAC on the weekend. I think on a different day with Liam Calhoun up near the front where he belonged, Wesleyan also would've moved ahead of Williams and potentially Amherst, potentially even into the top ten.
Looking for next year, Tufts lose four from what I can see, Amherst only two, Williams four, and Wesleyan three. It looks like it'll certainly be an interesting year at the top in 2026.
Calhoun's been cheeks for weeks and this was a solid performance from him considering that. How do you figure him moving from 78th to say, top 20, would've closed to the 70 point gap to Williams and 140 point gap to Amherst?
While you're at, why don't you also hypothesize about Eli Welch, Ben Hughes, Jonah Reisner, or Amokrane...?
Amherst and Midd look pretty good this year, and I'd expect that at least one of their frosh will make a big step up when they reach the college ranks and likely be a key impact player in their success heading into champs. Midd could definitely make a big step up and it wouldn't surprise me if they're a dark horse heading into nescacs. This recruiting class from Amherst also has me put them confidently over Williams now when combined with their current team, they'll be dangerous for sure.
Williams has definitely brought in some good new talent but their freshmen traditionally struggle compared to their incoming performances from high school, and the team was injury prone last year. The likely return of Zanuck and Hardiman will certainly help, and Mamiya will definitely be an x-factor for the team given his end of season performances in track, but I don't know if Williams have the depth or talent to retain the grip they've had on the nescac over the past decade and it wouldn't surprise me if both Wesleyan and Amherst surpass them by the end of the season. I'd go 1) Tufts, 2) Amherst, 3) Middlebury, 4) Wesleyan, 5) Williams, 6) Bowdoin, 7) Colby, 8) Bates, 9) Conn, 10) Hamilton, 11) Trinity.
Got a lot of flak for this hot take earlier in the season, but it appears that the Williams men continue to struggle once they have to go up against bigger competition and have continued their slow descent down the team results table at nationals to 14th. Tufts with a bad day finishing only 7th, but Amherst finally beat off their choking allegations and showed up when it counted with a strong 11th place finish is definitely the highlight for the NESCAC on the weekend. I think on a different day with Liam Calhoun up near the front where he belonged, Wesleyan also would've moved ahead of Williams and potentially Amherst, potentially even into the top ten.
Looking for next year, Tufts lose four from what I can see, Amherst only two, Williams four, and Wesleyan three. It looks like it'll certainly be an interesting year at the top in 2026.
never seen a truer take! Let’s say that Liam “not a miler” Calhoun had taken 1st overall (like he would have if he cared), and Noah Mahoney, Dylan Cote also been All-Americans, then we would have seen a completely different result for the Cardinals. Now, for a more favorable placement, a fourth card would need to be in a similar position. You would expect that to be senior, Alex Kermath, but the data actually shows that any of the other athletes could fill this role. Thank you for the thoughtful Trinity athlete for introducing this thoughtful analysis of the race to the group! Keep up the good work guys!
Calhoun's been cheeks for weeks and this was a solid performance from him considering that. How do you figure him moving from 78th to say, top 20, would've closed to the 70 point gap to Williams and 140 point gap to Amherst?
While you're at, why don't you also hypothesize about Eli Welch, Ben Hughes, Jonah Reisner, or Amokrane...?
His recovery run was quite strong given it's been a tough season for him. I was more saying that a move from him up from 78th to more like top 10 would've been imminently achievable imo without injuries. You are correct that may not have closed the gap to Amherst but certainly the gap to Williams, and I do think in this alternate reality that makes for a different result from Kermath or others on the team although this is all just pointless conjecture.
In terms of the others, I said that Tufts choked and both Reisner and Amokrane had bad days. With them where they should've been, I think Tufts would've certainly been at the very least a podium contender. I'd also say that you're overestimating Welch a little. He was 8th at regionals, 7th at CC, and 6th at KSC. The NESCAC isn't as nationally competitive anymore, so his performances against major competition already would've indicated at best a top-50 finish from him, and his 75th place finish felt perfectly natural given that LACCTiC literally predicted him finishing 76th.