The Hobart and William Smith cross country teams are set to travel to Rochester this weekend to compete in the NCAA Niagara Regional Championships, hosted by RIT, on Saturday, Nov. 15. The men's 8-kilometer race will begin at 10:30 a.m., with the women's 6-kilometer race to follow at 11:30 a.m.

The Statesmen are looking to improve upon their 17th place finish in last year's championship hosted in Fredonia. Sophomore Duncan Kipkoech is Hobart's top returner from the 2024 championship. He stopped the clock at 27:28.8 to finish 73rd out of 170 runners last year.

Earlier this month, Kipkoech led the Statesmen at the Liberty League Championships, finishing at 27:47.8 for a 41st place finish in his second collegiate conference championship. Senior Sean Moran followed in 54th place, while sophomore Evan Shannon rounded out Hobart's top-three in 55th.

The Herons are looking to build on last year's 18th place team finish at the regional championships. William Smith was led by senior Hope Johnson, who secured an 82nd place finish in a field of 156 runners. Johnson stopped the clock at 24:57.6 to lead the Herons in Fredonia.

Johnson has continued to pace the Herons in her senior season and will look to use her race experience and leadership to push William Smith to a strong finish. She won the CCOC Championship on Oct. 18, recording a time of 24:16.6.

Sophomore Megan Ingraham has found her stride this season and will look to push the pace for William Smith in the championship race. She earned her season-best 6k time of the season at the CCOC Championships, clocking in at 25:43.7 for a third-place finish. Junior Salma Menkari was right behind her, posting a time of 26:02.4 for a fourth-place finish.