Men’s cross country snagged a first-place victory at the NESCAC Championship at Bowdoin on Saturday. Williams defeated Amherst by a single point, marking the closest point differential in NESCAC men’s cross country history.
Co-captain Chuckie Namiot ’25 led the team to its fifth consecutive NESCAC Championship title, finishing in first place with a time of 24:40 in the 8k. “Williams has a long history of being very competitive in cross country,” he said. “Knowing that I’m continuing that legacy feels great. We’ve had the past three individual champions, including myself, so continuing the individual [success by] Williams feels good.”
The Ephs earned their hard-fought victory despite a slow start to the season. The team placed second out of three at the Little Three Championship on Sept. 7, behind Amherst and above Wesleyan. At the Purple Valley Classic, the Ephs also placed second, behind Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
“We took that as motivation to improve, and as the season has progressed, we’ve done better at every meet,” Rick Yanashita ’26 said. “The team is getting better, and that showed yesterday with a very close win at NESCACs.”
Yanashita placed 20th at the championship meet with a time of 25:17 — a feat he accomplished with the help of teammate Luke Zanuck ’26, with whom he paced throughout the race. “Throughout the season, we’ve been together for most races,” Yanashita said. “On the flats and the grass — he is better on that terrain — he would get in front of me and pull me along.”
The team strategically maintained a steady pace throughout the first half of the race, subsequently accelerating its pace in the latter half. This strategy, however, posed challenges later on.
“We held back a little too much, so we were stuck further back than expected, and midway through the race, we were still in fourth place as a team,” head coach Dusty Lopez said.
Nevertheless, due to its steadfast focus and composed demeanor, the team prevailed. “Our group stayed calm, stuck to the plan, and flew through the rally,” Lopez said.
Keiyu Mamiya ’28 also credited the team’s success to its chemistry and endurance. “[Our] ability to run together as a pack, be confident [and] patient — even if we weren’t leading in the beginning — and trust our training, our coach, and the plan he had for us really helped us out,” he said.
Mamiya’s 24th-place finish — the highest ranking among first-year racers — earned him the men’s cross country title NESCAC Rookie of the Year. “It feels good,” he said. “An individual honor is always great, but the bigger picture was the team title. That’s what really mattered.”
Malcolm Oakes ’28 and Alex Kemp ’28 placed right behind Mamiya, securing 25th and 26th place, respectively.
The team will compete at the NCAA Div. III Regional Championship on Nov. 16 at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Conn. A win or selection by the NCAA committee could secure their place at the NCAA Div. III Championship in Terre Haute, Ind., later this month.
