11/12/2026 2:52:00 PM | Men's Cross Country/Track & Field, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
BETHPAGE, N.Y. – Two weeks ago, the UMass Lowell cross country teams competed at the 2026 America East Championship at UAlbany, where the men captured their seventh consecutive conference title and graduate student Mary-Kate Finn (Nashua, N.H.) led the women to third place overall with her third career individual championship.
Both teams will travel to Bethpage, N.Y. for the NCAA Northeast Regional on Friday, looking to test themselves against some of the top teams in the Northeast. The women will kick things off with their 6k race at 11:00 a.m., while the men will follow with the 10k at 12:00 p.m.
With five runners earning All-Conference honors, the men finished with 49 points at the America East Championship, beating out second-place Vermont by 12. Junior Devin Moreau (Tyngsboro, Mass.) led the way with a third-place finish for the second consecutive year, earning a time of 24:14.2, while sophomore Will Simard (Francestown, N.H.) also joined Moreau with an All-Conference First Team effort, claiming seventh place with a time of 24:25.6.
The three All-Conference Second Team honorees finished consecutively in 12th, 13th and 14th place. Sophomore Will Conklin (Danvers, Mass.) led the trio in 12th with a time of 24:31.5, before junior Dante Castellano (Nashua, N.H.) earned 13th with a time of 24:33.3 and sophomore James Cruse (Melbourne, Australia) recorded a time of 24:34.3 for 14th place. Castellano was also named the Elite 18 Award recipient following the race for having the highest GPA of any All-Conference finisher.
Head Coach Gary Gardner was extremely impressed with the teams' performances at the conference meet, especially the men, who continue to make history year after year, but still believes the squads have more to show this weekend.
"I'm looking forward to Friday," said Gardner. "The men have looked really good in training. We've had some bad luck with weather early in the season and then having sickness run through the team at conference. So, I don't think we've put together our best team performance yet. Hopefully we see that this week. I am excited to see them compete."
On the women's side, Finn turned in a standout performance in the 5k, becoming the conference's individual champion for the third time in her career with a time of 17:05.7. Sophomore Georgia Brooks (Groton, Mass.) also found success, finishing 10th to earn All-Conference Second Team honors with a time of 17:43.4.
"The women have had an excellent season," said Gardner. "I feel like we've grown a ton this year. I think Mary-Kate is ready to roll and lead the rest of the team. I am excited to see them compete."
Last season, the men finished seventh at the NCAA Northeast Regional, while the women placed 20th. Both squads will look to build on those performances Friday as they compete for a spot at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
Both teams will travel to Bethpage, N.Y. for the NCAA Northeast Regional on Friday, looking to test themselves against some of the top teams in the Northeast. The women will kick things off with their 6k race at 11:00 a.m., while the men will follow with the 10k at 12:00 p.m.
With five runners earning All-Conference honors, the men finished with 49 points at the America East Championship, beating out second-place Vermont by 12. Junior Devin Moreau (Tyngsboro, Mass.) led the way with a third-place finish for the second consecutive year, earning a time of 24:14.2, while sophomore Will Simard (Francestown, N.H.) also joined Moreau with an All-Conference First Team effort, claiming seventh place with a time of 24:25.6.
The three All-Conference Second Team honorees finished consecutively in 12th, 13th and 14th place. Sophomore Will Conklin (Danvers, Mass.) led the trio in 12th with a time of 24:31.5, before junior Dante Castellano (Nashua, N.H.) earned 13th with a time of 24:33.3 and sophomore James Cruse (Melbourne, Australia) recorded a time of 24:34.3 for 14th place. Castellano was also named the Elite 18 Award recipient following the race for having the highest GPA of any All-Conference finisher.
Head Coach Gary Gardner was extremely impressed with the teams' performances at the conference meet, especially the men, who continue to make history year after year, but still believes the squads have more to show this weekend.
"I'm looking forward to Friday," said Gardner. "The men have looked really good in training. We've had some bad luck with weather early in the season and then having sickness run through the team at conference. So, I don't think we've put together our best team performance yet. Hopefully we see that this week. I am excited to see them compete."
On the women's side, Finn turned in a standout performance in the 5k, becoming the conference's individual champion for the third time in her career with a time of 17:05.7. Sophomore Georgia Brooks (Groton, Mass.) also found success, finishing 10th to earn All-Conference Second Team honors with a time of 17:43.4.
"The women have had an excellent season," said Gardner. "I feel like we've grown a ton this year. I think Mary-Kate is ready to roll and lead the rest of the team. I am excited to see them compete."
Last season, the men finished seventh at the NCAA Northeast Regional, while the women placed 20th. Both squads will look to build on those performances Friday as they compete for a spot at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
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/ Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
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/ Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
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/ Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
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/ Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Dist.
/ Men's Cross Country/Track & FieldMonday, May 11
Monday, May 11
Wednesday, March 25
Sunday, February 22
