MEDFORD, MA (October 29, 2026) – The Tufts University women's cross country team is one of three top-10 teams in the nation competing at the 2026 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship on Saturday at Middlebury College. The women's race begins at 11:00 a.m.
Championship Meet Details
2026 NESCAC Women's Cross Country Championship
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Middlebury College Cross Country Course in Middlebury, VT - (
Directions & Parking /
Course Map)
Live Coverage:
VIDEO -
LIVE RESULTS
Second-ranked Middlebury has the home-course advantage, while No. 4 Williams is the five-time defending champion. The No. 7 Jumbos will look to be at their best as they challenge for the program's first conference title since 1987.
Tufts placed fourth at last year's NESCAC meet, and four of that squad's five scorers return in 2026.
"It's a pretty experienced group that knows what they need to do and knows how to go about their business," said
Jamie Norton, Tufts Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "They have put together some really strong performances this year, but still feel like there's room for more people to work their way up into that top group, which, if things go well, could put us into contention in an extremely competitive meet."
Senior
Katya Henisz is the top returning finisher from last year, placing 18th overall. Senior
Deirdre Flanagan (23rd), junior
Zoe Margolies (27th) and sophomore
Zui Chinchalkar (31st) also scored for Tufts and are back this season. Sophomore
Lily Simmonds, the Jumbos' sixth finisher, was close behind in 33rd, and junior
Samara McVey also returns from last year's NESCAC team.
The 15-member Jumbo roster also includes sophomores
Kayleigh Forde,
Alanna Jacob and
Eleanor Whitehouse, along with first-years
Esme Gulbransen,
Addison Julian,
Kajol Karra,
Claire Palmer,
Sylvia Perrin and
Kat Piantka.
Tufts opened its season on the Middlebury course at the Aldrich Invitational on September 12, where Chinchalkar, Flanagan, Margolies, Henisz and Karra were the scoring five. On October 3, at the Running of the Cows meet on the 2026 NCAA Championship course in Northfield, Minn., which featured many of the nation's top teams, Tufts finished a strong fourth, led by Simmonds, Chinchalkar, Henisz, Palmer and Karra.
Beyond Tufts, Middlebury and Williams, Connecticut College (No. 22) and Bates College (No. 24) are also nationally ranked. Bowdoin College, Wesleyan University and Amherst College sit just outside the top 25, setting up a deep conference championship race.
The Jumbos are seeking one of their best conference finishes in the last decade, a stretch that includes second-place finishes in 2019 and 2021 and third-place finishes in 2017 and 2024.
"I think just wanting to put ourselves in the mix in the race and see what we can do, and believe that we can be competing with the top two teams is the goal," Coach Norton said.
--JUMBOS--
