BRISTOL, R.I. – Following a seventh-place finish at the 2025 Conference of New England Championship, the Roger Williams University Women's Cross Country team enters the 2026 season with a young and hungry group looking to take the next step.
Leading the Hawks once again is Head Coach Sean Livingston, who enters his 22nd season with Roger Williams after being named the 2025 Conference of New England Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year. Livingston will once again be joined by Coach Maura "Mo" Logan, who enters her fifth season with the Hawks. Together, Livingston and Logan will look to guide Roger Williams to a season of success.
Livingston and Logan will look to guide the Hawks through another competitive season as the team works to establish a new front of the pack following the graduation of Grace Baldwin, the Hawks' No. 1 runner and an All-Conference performer from a season ago.
With the top spot now open, Roger Williams will rely on a combination of returning runners and newcomers to help fill the void and continue the program's growth.
Carnevale Ready for New Opportunity
One of the runners expected to compete for a leading role in 2026 is graduate student Gabriella Carnevale (Jamestown, R.I.), who enters the season with the potential to make an immediate impact at the conference level.
Livingston has been impressed with Carnevale's early work ethic and believes she has the ability to establish herself among the top runners in the CNE.
"Based on what I've seen from her, I think she can be a top-15 performer in the conference for sure," said Livingston. "The work ethic does show that she can be able to do some good things for us this season."
With the No. 1 position open following Baldwin's graduation, Carnevale will have an opportunity to help establish a new identity at the front of the Hawks' lineup.
Sitzer, Killion Lead Returning Core
Among the Hawks' returning runners is junior captain Gabriella Sitzer (Slingerlands, N.Y.), who is coming off a strong 2025 campaign and enters the season as one of the team's top returning performers.
Livingston believes Sitzer's dedication, work ethic and perseverance will continue to help her progress as she prepares for another CNE Championship.
"Her work ethic is outstanding," said Livingston. "I think she does the most, and her work ethic and perseverance will help bring her to a good spot this season at the conference meet."
Sitzer will be joined by fellow junior captain Bree Killion (Rochester, Mass.), who will provide additional veteran leadership as the Hawks work to establish a new front of the pack.
Together, Sitzer and Killion will lead a young Roger Williams roster while helping guide a group of returning runners and newcomers throughout the 2026 campaign.
The Hawks will also look to returning contributors Alexandra Biryukov (Oceanside, N.Y.), Katlynn Joseph (Cumberland, R.I.) and Lindsay Maine (Richmond, R.I.) to take on larger roles as Roger Williams looks to replace the production of its graduated leaders.
Maluk, Koon Highlight Incoming Class
The Hawks will also welcome a group of newcomers who Livingston believes can quickly become important pieces of the program.
Among those first-year runners are Taylor Maluk (Newport, R.I.) and Maddy Koon (Albany, N.Y.), two newcomers who have already impressed the coaching staff during the early portion of the season.
Livingston believes both runners have the ability to mesh with the returning core and contribute to the continued development of the program.
"I think both of them are going to be good," said Livingston. "As of what I am seeing so far, I think they can really mesh well with the core that we already have and help build on our program's tradition."
The incoming group will provide additional depth as the Hawks work to determine their top runners throughout the regular season.
Along with Maluk and Koon, Roger Williams welcomes Tiffany Blanco (Warwick, R.I.), Giselle Haun (Meriden, Conn.) and Brooke Riesenberg (De Pere, Wis.) to the program, giving the Hawks additional young talent as they look to build for the future.
Building From Last Season
Roger Williams finished seventh at the 2025 Conference of New England Championship, giving the Hawks a clear starting point heading into the new season.
While the loss of Baldwin leaves an important opening at the front of the lineup, Livingston believes the combination of returning experience and new talent gives this year's team a different level of hunger.
"I think this group is a hungrier group than last year," said Livingston. "I think we are going to build from last season."
That mindset will be important as Roger Williams looks to improve throughout the season and make another push when the championship portion of the schedule arrives.
2026 Schedule
The Hawks will open the 2026 campaign on September 12 at 11:15 a.m. at the University of Hartford Invitational at Keney Park in Hartford, Conn. Roger Williams will continue its regular-season schedule with the UMass Dartmouth Cross Country Invitational on September 19 before competing at the Paul Short Run on October 2.
The Hawks will then compete at the James Earley Invitational on October 10 before taking part in the Homecoming 5K Road Race on October 17 in Bristol.
The championship portion of the season begins on October 31 at the Conference of New England Championship, hosted by Hartford at Keney Park. Roger Williams will then look to continue its season 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 in Northfield, Minn.
A New Chapter for the Hawks
With Baldwin's graduation leaving the No. 1 spot open, the 2026 season represents a new chapter for Roger Williams Women's Cross Country.
Livingston enters his 22nd season at the helm, while Logan begins her fifth season as assistant coach, giving the Hawks a veteran coaching staff to help guide a young group that will look to establish itself throughout the regular season.
Carnevale and Sitzer will provide experience at the front of the team, while Killion, Maluk, Koon and the rest of the returning and incoming runners look to make their mark.
For a program built on continued development and growth, the goal entering 2026 is clear: build from last season, embrace the opportunity and continue moving the Hawks forward.
