BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont begins the 2026 Cross Country season by hosting UMass Lowell at Hard'ack Recreation Area in St. Albans. It's the second consecutive year that Catamounts and River Hawks meet head-to-head in the season opener. The women's race will begin at noon followed by the men at 12:45. Live timing is available at 802timing.com.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Timing
 
VERMONT OUTLOOK

• The Vermont women were picked to finish in fifth place in the 2026 pre-season poll conducted among the league coaches. The Catamounts received one first place vote.
• Siena Stanley is the top returner for Vermont from the 2025 Championship race. She finished 14th 18:03.30. Stanley also won the season opening event in 2025 against UMass Lowell in St. Albans.
• Ava Hayden opened her career against UMass Lowell last season with a fifth-place finish.
• Hannah Devine was Vermont's fastest freshman at the conference championship while Ellery Klatka steps into her junior season after participating in the championship race. Dailey Arnold, Grace DeLisle, and Erica Eastman all return from the Vermont contingent that competed in the conference championship.
• The Catamount men were picked to finish in fifth with 33 total points in the America East preseason poll. They finished in sixth in 2025.
• William Locke, Bennett Harrison-Michaels and Tommy Wolfe lead a strong senior class of returners, all three finished in the top 40 of last seasons' conference championship race.
• Wolfe was the winner of last years' season opener against UMass Lowell with a time of 20:22.90.
• The entire group of Catamounts from last year's season ending race return, including sophomores Patrick Mozden, Myles Napolitano and Will Just, and juniors Henry Nasse, Morgan McCuen, and Zak Metzger.

SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS

• The River Hawk men are the preseason favorites picking up all eight possible first place votes. They won the 2025 Championship behind five top-ten finishes.
• Of the eight competitors in the 2025 Championship race, seven return for head coach Gary Gardner.
• William Conklin was the best finisher for UMass Lowell in last seasons' opener in second place, just less than two seconds behind Wolfe.
• The UMass Lowell women were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll. They finished in fifth at the 2025 Championships.
• Georgia Brooks returns after a fifth-place finish in the 2025 Championship and enters her junior season. Anna Fondakowski was the top finisher at Vermont in the 2025 head-to-head matchup with the Catamounts. She finished in eighth place.

 
For news and updates about the Vermont Cross Country program, follow @UVMtrackxc on Instagram and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com