University of Massachusetts Lowell
Vermont
River Hawks Eager to Compete in 2022
9/2/2022 9:42:00 AM | Men's Cross Country/Track & Field, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
LOWELL, Mass.—For the UMass Lowell cross country team, success has become the norm heading into the 2022 season. The reigning back-to-back America East Champions return to the course this year eager to capture the three-peat.
The kids had a really good summer overall on the men’s and the women’s side. It was probably the best we’ve trained in four to five years, so we’re excited to see what they can do. It’s exciting to have a new group of kids than we’ve had the last couple of years.Gary Gardner // Head Coach
The last two season, the men’s and women’s programs have dominated, claiming the 2020 and 2021 titles thanks to stellar team outings. After graduating several key contributors from the championship squads last semester, the River Hawks are leaning on returning senior leadership to help mold and lead a new group of talented and promising underclassmen to the title once again.
“I don’t think we feel too much pressure [to three-peat]. I think we feel pretty ready this year. We just brought in a really good group of freshmen, and they seem extremely determined. They’re ready to help us out right off the bat.”
– Mackenzie Doyle // Sr.
Graduate students Emily Sessa and Izzy Giesing return for another year in the Red and Blue after top finishes during the 2020 and 2021 championship runs. Last year, Sessa crossed first for UMass Lowell, finishing second overall with a time of 16:32.29. Giesing crossed not long after in 16:54.07 to clinch fourth. Senior Mackenzie Doyle also aims to break the top-10 this year after crossing in 17:22.67 to place 13th at last year's championship.
For the men’s team, graduate student Drew Everett and senior John Riley are both poised to lead the pack through the regular season to the conference championships. Taking fourth and ninth overall at last year’s championship, Everett and Riley will be key cogs for the River Hawks as they hope to reload their championship machine.
This is a team that’s ambitious to win. They’re eager to win three in a row. I think that’s always the goal is to win. That’s the mindset here, and that’s what we aim to do.Ethan Mashtare // Fr.
Opening the season at the Vermont Invite this weekend, Gardner hopes for the newcomers to make an impact immediately. This weekend’s season opening race will prove to be a major test for the rookies as they hope to breakthrough.
This week is for the younger kids and kids who are trying earn their way into the top 10 for the conference meet. The first real competitive situation we'll have is Lehigh at the end of the month. Before that, it's a buildGary Gardner // Head Coach
The River Hawks continue fine tuning and settling their lineup at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 17, and at the Coast-to-Coast Invitational on Sept. 23, before facing their first major challenge on the season at the 2022 Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh.
[At Lehigh], we'll see at least five or six ranked men's team and six or seven women's teams. Everything else is a build to that meet to see really where we're at [in the season]. We'll know how good we are after that weekend.Gary Gardner // Head Coach
After testing the waters at Paul Short, UMass Lowell heads into the backstretch of the regular season, traveling to the New England Championships on Oct. 8, the IC4A/ECAC Championships on Oct. 14, and the CCSU Mini Meet on Oct. 21, for their final trio of meets before the conference championships.
2022 Cross Country Schedule
The River Hawks immediately turn their attention to the national stage as they head into the NCAA Northeast Regional on Friday, Nov. 11. Although the team has seen several individuals advance to the national championship, Gardner hopes this season could mark a new step for the program.
We’re a hungry team. We’ve shown that we’ve got some depth on the team. We’re ready to do big things, even beyond conference. The goal is regionals. [We want] to be one of those top two teams going all the way.Drew Everett // Gr.
