GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart and William Smith cross country teams will host the 19th annual Cross Country Only Conference Championships at Seneca Lake State Park Saturday, Oct. 18. The women's 6-kilometer race is set to begin at 11 a.m. with the men's 8-kilometer race to follow at noon.
 
The conference championship meet was founded by former William Smith Head Cross Country Coach Jack Warner in 2005 for schools that sponsor cross country, but not track and field. This year's CCOC field will feature Hobart and William Smith, SUNY Canton, Clarkson, Keuka and Paul Smith's. SUNY Morrisville will also participate in the races, but the Mustangs, who have track and field, will not be eligible for the championships.
 
In the women's race, William Smith is the three-time defending champion, winning the 2024 title by 12 points over runner-up Clarkson. Heron senior Hope Johnson is the defending individual champion posting a time of 24:42.9 last season.
 
In addition to Johnson , this year's William Smith squad also returns top 20 finishers in sophomore Bella Miller (3rd), sophomore Joan Reichert (6th), junior Carden Costello (8th), senior Talya Peters (9th), junior Salma Menkari (13th), sophomore Megan Ingraham (14th), junior Ruby Nelson (16th), junior Fiona Howes (17th), and sophomore Nelle Aaron (20th).
 
On the men's side, Clarkson has won seven straight CCOC team titles, with Hobart coming in second in 2024. Hobart's top returning runner is sophomore Duncan Kipkoech who finished third with a time of 26:58.8. Statesmen sophomore Evan Shannon (14th), sophomore Philip Dilgard-Clark (15th) and senior James Nelson (17th) also finished in the top 20 last season.