Rhode Island Captures Team Title, UMass Amherst’s Catherwood Claims Individual Crown at the 2025 NEICAAA Men’s Cross Country Championships

Photo Credit: Mark Connolly - See more photos

Hopkinton, NH – October 10, 2025

The 2025 NEICAAA Men’s Cross Country Championships delivered all the drama and precision expected of New England’s signature fall race, as more than two dozen programs took to the rolling 8-kilometer layout at Hopkinton Fairgrounds. Under cool, still skies and firm footing, the University of Rhode Island men’s squad executed a nearly flawless team race to claim the championship title, while UMass Amherst’s Collin Catherwood turned in a commanding individual performance to seize the win in 23:57.82

The conditions could not have been better for championship running — mid-50s temperatures, light wind, and a dry course that rewarded rhythm and endurance. From the gun, Catherwood established himself at the front of a large lead pack, flanked by Holy Cross’s Joseph Mahon and Rhode Island’s Nick Martin. The trio traded the lead through the halfway mark before Catherwood made a decisive move over the final mile, opening a gap on the field and crossing the line just under 24 minutes — a blistering pace of 4:49 per mile. His victory anchored a strong showing for UMass Amherst, which finished runner-up in the team standings with 107 points.

Rhode Island, however, proved untouchable in the team race. The Rams displayed depth, discipline, and composure from start to finish, scoring a tight 60-point total to secure the title — their lowest in more than a decade. Led by Nick Martin (3rd, 24:06) and Garrett Hartline (5th, 24:07), URI placed all five scorers within the top 22. Rookie Matthew Lucas (13th) and freshmen standouts Maddox Jordan (17th) and Brayton Gazerro (22nd) provided critical backup, sealing a victory built on pack running and a mere 57-second spread from their first to fifth man.

Behind them, UMass Amherst impressed with balance and front-end strength. In addition to Catherwood’s win, seniors Liam Ouellette (8th) and Cyrus Hansen (9th) gave the Minutemen three runners inside the top 10, while Riley Cole (26th) and Liam Davidson (63rd) completed the scoring five. Their 1–5 compression of under two minutes was among the best in the field, demonstrating both experience and momentum heading into the postseason.

The battle for third came down to the final kilometer, where Maine (112 pts) edged Holy Cross (115 pts) in one of the closest team finishes of the day. Charlie Collins (7th) and Connor Daigle (14th) led Maine’s charge, with Kyle McClellan (27th) and Ethan Keller (30th) rounding out a consistent top four. Holy Cross countered with a brilliant 1–2 punch from Joseph Mahon (2nd, 24:02) and Liam Lyons (4th, 24:06), but deeper scoring gaps ultimately gave the edge to the Black Bears.

Rounding out the top five, Stonehill College (148 pts) delivered a strong team showing, paced by Dylan Brilliant (21st) and Nicholas Davies (25th). New Hampshire (6th, 158 pts), Merrimack (7th, 206 pts), and Vermont (8th, 207 pts) were separated by only a handful of points, underscoring the extraordinary depth of the 2025 field. Individually, the top 10 reflected the depth of talent across divisions. Behind Catherwood and Mahon came URI’s Martin, Holy Cross’s Lyons, and Hartline, followed by Central Connecticut’s Aidan Budge, Maine’s Charlie Collins, UMass’s Ouellette and Hansen, and Bowdoin’s Seamus McDonough, who cracked the top 10 for the second straight year. The Hopkinton course, with its sweeping meadows and subtle undulations, once again lived up to its reputation as a true cross country test — fair, honest, and deceptively fast.

First held in 1912, the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NEICAAA) Men’s Cross Country Championships stand among the nation’s oldest collegiate running traditions. For more than a century, the meet has united New England’s best across all divisions, producing generations of champions and timeless rivalries. This year’s edition carried that legacy forward, balancing history with the freshness of new talent remain a cornerstone of collegiate cross country in the region — uniting Division I, II, and III programs in a single, tradition-rich contest. For Rhode Island, Friday’s victory marked a milestone moment, a culmination of years of steady progress and a statement that the Rams are once again a force on the New England stage.

For complete results, photos and historical archives, visit at neicaaa.net/2025-xc-championships.

Pl.	Name	Class	Team	Time
1	Collin Catherwood	JR	UMass Amherst	23:57.82
2	Joseph Mahon	JR	Holy Cross	24:02.24
3	Nick Martin	JR	Rhode Island	24:06.33
4	Liam Lyons	SR	Holy Cross	24:06.52
5	Garrett Hartline	JR	Rhode Island	24:07.62
6	Aidan Budge	JR	Central Connecticut	24:15.94
7	Charlie Collins	JR	Maine	24:16.52
8	Liam Ouellette	SR	UMass Amherst	24:28.95
9	Cyrus Hansen	SO	UMass Amherst	24:31.33
10	Seamus McDonough	JR	Bowdoin	24:33.64
11	William Locke	JR	Vermont	24:36.93
12	Amokrane Aouchiche	SR	Tufts	24:37.88
13	Matthew Lucas	FR	Rhode Island	24:43.19
14	Connor Daigle	SR	Maine	24:44.09
15	Meba Henok	JR	Tufts	24:49.99
16	Alex Saldana	SO	Quinnipiac	24:51.14
17	Maddox Jordan	FR	Rhode Island	24:52.44
18	Aidan Dupill	JR	Merrimack	24:55.88
19	Zachary Hooper	SR	New Hampshire	24:57.05
20	John Murphy	SR	New Hampshire	24:59.03
21	Dylan Brilliant	JR	Stonehill	25:01.54
22	Brayton Gazerro	SO	Rhode Island	25:02.47
23	Sean Moore	SO	Merrimack	25:02.62
24	Gavin Malark	SO	New Hampshire	25:03.92
25	Nicholas Davies	JR	Stonehill	25:05.19

Rank	Team	Score	Team Time	Avg Time	Top Finishers
1	Rhode Island	60	2:02:53	24:35	3 – 5 – 13 – 17 – 22
2	UMass Amherst	107	2:03:53	24:47	1 – 8 – 9 – 26 – 63
3	Maine	112	2:04:40	24:56	7 – 14 – 27 – 30 – 34
4	Holy Cross	115	2:04:10	24:50	2 – 4 – 28 – 37 – 44
5	Stonehill	148	2:06:01	25:13	21 – 25 – 29 – 32 – 41
6	New Hampshire	158	2:06:11	25:15	19 – 20 – 24 – 46 – 49
7	Merrimack	206	2:06:59	25:24	18 – 23 – 40 – 56 – 69
8	Vermont	207	2:06:51	25:23	11 – 38 – 42 – 55 – 61
9	Tufts	207	2:06:48	25:22	12 – 15 – 45 – 57 – 78
10	Central Connecticut	234	2:07:04	25:25	6 – 35 – 59 – 64 – 70