BRISTOL, R.I. – Coming off another championship season, the Roger Williams University Men's Cross Country team enters the 2026 campaign looking to continue its tradition of success under Head Coach Sean Livingston, who enters his 21st season at the helm of the Hawks. Livingston will once again be joined by Assistant Coach Maura Mo Logan who enters her fifth season with the program. Together, Livingston and Logan have helped guide the Hawks to remarkable success and multiple conference championships while establishing Roger Williams as one of the top programs in the region.
Roger Williams captured the 2025 Conference of New England Championship, finishing first out of 10 teams, before placing eighth out of 26 teams at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championship. The Hawks were led by Nathan Tassey, who capped his career with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championship and earned his third consecutive All-American honor. Nathan Evans also competed at the national championship after a strong postseason run.
Veteran Leadership
With Tassey now graduated, the Hawks will look to their three senior captains — Nathan Evans (Lincoln, R.I.), Kyle Tarpy (Haverhill, Mass.) and Harrison Krause (Glastonbury, Conn.) — to help lead the way in 2026.
Evans returns for his final season after earning All-Conference and All-Region honors in 2025. He finished second at the 2025 CNE Championship and qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championship.
Entering his final season, Evans will look to make another push toward the national championship while providing leadership to a young Hawks squad.
"He embraces pressure. He's a calm, cool presence," said Livingston. "Having been a captain last year, some of the newer guys are already accepting his leadership, and he has been a great support for the younger guys."
Evans will be joined by fellow senior captains Harrison Krause and Kyle Tarpy, both of whom return as experienced contributors expected to play important roles in the Hawks' lineup.
Krause, a returning All-Conference performer, is expected to complement Evans at the front of the Hawks' lineup as Roger Williams looks to replace the production of Tassey.
"I can see both William and Nathan as our one-two punch," said Livingston. "He has the work ethic and talent to potentially get to an NCAA Championship."
Tarpy is another returning veteran expected to compete for a spot among the Hawks' top five. Livingston believes Tarpy can make a significant impact during the conference championship season and contend for a top-10-to-15 finish.
As one of the team's three captains, Tarpy will also provide an important veteran presence for a roster that features a large group of newcomers.
Sophomore Cole Walker (Cumberland, R.I.) also returns after a standout first season. Walker earned Conference Runner of the Year honors in 2025 and enters his sophomore campaign expected to compete among the conference's top runners.
"His running IQ is high. He's very mature for a second-year, hard-working kid who loves sports," said Livingston. "It's good to see that his work is playing off, and I can definitely see that he's hungry this year."
Nine First-Years Join the Hawks
Roger Williams welcomes nine first-year runners to the program, adding another layer of depth to the 2026 roster.
Among the newcomers to watch are Chris Campbell, Samuel Matson, and Henry McCormack. Campbell enters Roger Williams with impressive high school times and has already stood out as one of the newcomers expected to make an impact. Matson has also looked strong during the early portion of the season, while Livingston believes McCormick has the potential to make significant strides throughout the campaign.
Livingston is particularly encouraged by the mindset of the incoming class, which represents one of the program's largest freshman groups.
"They want to be good. They are coming in not being intimidated by the past success of our team," said Livingston. "What I love about them so far is that based on their actions and approach to practice, they think they do belong here. This is a very mature freshman class, and probably one of the more mature ones."
2026 Schedule
The Hawks will open the 2026 campaign on September 12 at the University of Hartford Invitational, held at Keney Park in Hartford, Conn. Roger Williams will then compete at the UMass Dartmouth Cross Country Invitational on September 19 before heading to Bethlehem, Pa., for the Paul Short Run on October 2.
The Hawks will continue their regular-season slate at the James Earley Invitational in Westfield, Mass., on October 10 before hosting the Homecoming 5K Road Race on October 17 in Bristol.
The championship portion of the season begins on October 31, when Roger Williams travels to Keney Park in Hartford for the Conference of New England Championship. The Hawks will then compete at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championship on November 14 at Wickham Park in Manchester, Conn., with the NCAA Division III Championship scheduled for November 21 at the Bill Huyck Championship Course in Northfield, Minn.
Continuing the Standard
After another championship season in 2025, the Hawks enter 2026 with the same high expectations that have become synonymous with the program.
With Livingston entering his 21st season and Logan beginning her fifth season on the coaching staff, the Hawks will look to their experienced coaching staff and veteran leadership to continue the program's championship tradition.
"Every year is different," said Livingston. "Our goal is always to be in the top 10 conversations, and I think if we could get some guys in the NCAA Championship conversations and the regionals, that's a goal."
With captains Nathan Evans, Kyle Tarpy and Harrison Krause providing veteran leadership, Walker and Tarpy looking to take another step forward, and nine first-years joining the program, Livingston believes the Hawks have the pieces to make another strong postseason push.
"My goal is hoping we will run well this year as a team, and with our growth and mindset, I see us doing some big things this season," said Livingston.
