Williams Women Win Seventh Straight NESCAC Title
The Ephs captured the cross country crown in Middlebury, Vermont, edging the host school by four points.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Track & Field
Williams women's cross country won its seventh consecutive NESCAC championship with 36 points, four ahead of Middlebury's 32. The Ephs previously won last year's title by a 37-point margin.
Why it matters
The victory extends Williams' dominance in the conference and sets up a berth in the NCAA Regionals. The team's run of first-place finishes reflects consistent performance across the season.
Kate Tuttle '28 finished third in the 6k in 21:19.5, leading a Williams pack that finished fifth, eighth and ninth overall. Williams has placed first in nine of its 10 races this season, though Middlebury beat the Ephs at the Connecticut College Invitational Blue Race earlier this month.
The players
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, known for its strong NCAA Division III athletics program and competitive cross country teams.
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, and a longtime rival of Williams in NESCAC athletics.
The details
Williams ran a conservative, packed strategy suited to the hilly Middlebury course and gained places through negative splits in the final stretch. The Ephs now advance to the NCAA Regionals on Nov. 14 in Hartford, Connecticut.
Timeline
Earlier this month: Middlebury beat Williams at the Connecticut College Invitational Blue Race.
Nov. 4: Williams won the NESCAC championship in Middlebury, Vermont.
Nov. 14: NCAA Regionals in Hartford, Connecticut.
Nov. 21: NCAA Division III National Championship in Northfield, Minnesota.
Season Trajectory
Williams' seventh consecutive NESCAC women's title extends a run of conference dominance that the program previously established with a 37-point margin last year. The result positions the Ephs as a leading contender heading into the NCAA Division III postseason.
Fans wanting to follow the team can track the NCAA Regionals on Nov. 14 in Hartford, Connecticut. The national meet on Nov. 21 in Northfield, Minnesota, is the next major competition on the calendar.
The takeaway
Williams' consistency across a full season, including first-place finishes in nine of 10 races, underscores how depth and disciplined pacing can translate into conference titles. Readers following collegiate running can watch how the team handles the NCAA postseason.
What happens next
Williams women's cross country competes in the NCAA Regionals on Nov. 14 in Hartford, Connecticut, with the NCAA Division III National Championship following on Nov. 21 in Northfield, Minnesota.
Further reading
Explore more Track & Field coverage for context on collegiate distance running across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Williams Record.
