PROVIDENCE, R.I. — On Thursday, the Little East Conference (LEC) released the 2025 preseason poll for women's cross country with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth selected to finished tied for third overall out of nine teams.
The Corsairs picked up 49 total points to claim a tie with Plymouth State – with the Panthers securing one first-place vote. The reigning Little East champions, Keene State College, topped the poll with 64 total points and collected eight out of the nine possible first-place votes. Eastern Connecticut State College captured second overall with 51 total points.
UMass Dartmouth competed in seven total meets during the 2024 campaign, finishing 10th or better in four of the seven competitions. The Corsairs opened the year with a sixth-place team finish at the Wheaton College Invitational. The women's squad later captured second place at the Little East Championship on Nov. 2 – it's highest finish since the 2000 season – led by graduate student
Emily Philbrook in fourth overall for All-LEC First Team honors.
Head coach
Ryan O'Connell, entering his third season at the helm, sees 11 returners from last season's squad including senior captain
Tori Schweitzer and classmate
Emma Madruga. Joining the roster this season are seven newcomers.
At the end of the 2024 campaign, the women's team garnered USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recognition. Five Corsairs also earned LEC All-Academic honors featuring
Serena Carnes, graduate
Bee Greenberg, Madruga, Schweitzer and graduate
Emma Steedman. Additionally, three garnered College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
UMass Dartmouth kicks-off the new campaign on Saturday, August 30 at the Suffolk Invitational, hosted in Attleboro, Mass. The men's race gets underway at 10am, followed by the women's race at 10:45am.
