BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Cross Country teams will open their 2025 campaign on Saturday afternoon in Spartanburg, S.C., when members of the squad compete at the NCAA Division III Pre-Nationals Meet.
The Hawks' men's cross country team enters the season following its fourth-straight conference championship, highlighted by Nathan Tassey (Whitman, Mass.), who earned CNE Runner of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. At the championship meet, four Hawks secured All-Conference honors (top 15), including Tassey, Nathan Evans (Lincoln, R.I.), and Harrison Krause (Glastonbury, Conn.).
Roger Williams placed sixth as a team at the Mideast Regional, where Tassey claimed the individual championship. Dylan Beggins (hometown not listed) and Evans also earned All-Region accolades, finishing 12th and 32nd, respectively. Tassey and Beggins went on to represent the Hawks at the NCAA National Championships in La Crosse, Wis., where Tassey placed fourth overall.
On the women's cross country side, the Hawks recorded their best finish since 2019, placing second at the CNE Championships. The team returns one of its top three runners from last season in Katie Flaherty (West Hartford, Conn.), who finished 14th overall to earn All-Conference honors. Olivia O'Neill (Westwood, Mass.) also returns after being the Hawks' fifth runner to cross the line at the CNE Championship, along with Natalie Forno (Middletown, Conn.), who finished sixth for the team.
At the Mideast Regional, the Hawks posted their best finish in program history, placing 13th overall.
In 2025, the Hawks return 15 runners on the men's side and nine on the women's side, giving both teams a solid foundation heading into the season.
Following this weekend's selective competition at Pre-Nationals, the full roster will take the course on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Trinity Invitational in Hartford, Conn. The Hawks will then compete at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20, before taking part in both the Paul Short Invitational and the James Earley Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Roger Williams will compete at the CNE Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, followed by the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional and a potential berth at the NCAA Division III National Championship on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Spartanburg, S.C.
