MIDDLETOWN, CT. - The Wesleyan men's cross country team heads into the NESCAC Championship with plenty of momentum after a season highlighted by historic team performances and an undefeated campaign from standout runner Dylan Cote. The weekend kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Middlebury College at 12 p.m. following the women's race at 11 a.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

The Cardinals opened the season in memorable fashion at the Little Three Championship, capturing the team title for the first time since 1984. The Cardinals edged Williams in a dramatic tiebreaker, with Cote leading the way in first place at 18:16.8. Zach Allen followed with a sixth-place finish in 18:38.6, while Noah Mahoney took seventh in 18:45.1. Cote's performance earned him National Runner of the Week honors, marking a significant milestone for the program.

Continuing a strong push at the Cardinal Invitational, the hosts finished third among nine teams. Cote once again paced the field, taking first place in 24:12.4. The Cardinals placed three additional runners in the top 20, as Ben McKinney finished 16th in 25:32.1, Emmett Leachman took 17th in 25:34.9, and Mahoney placed 18th in 25:39.4. Following another standout performance, Cote was named NESCAC Runner of the Week.

The momentum shifted into the Conn. College Invitational, where the Cardinals secured a program-best third-place finish at the race. Cote continued his dominant campaign, winning in 23:52.8 for his third victory of the season. McKinney finished 22nd in 24:40.03, Mahoney placed 27th in 24:42.7, and Allen crossed the line in 49th at 24:52.9. Cote's victory earned him his second NESCAC Runner of the Week honor, further cementing his status as one of the conference's premier runners.

The Cardinals will look to build on its recent history at the NESCAC Championship. In 2025, the Cardinals finished fourth, their best conference championship result in 15 years. Tufts claimed the team title, while Mahoney led Wesleyan with a 15th-place finish to earn All-NESCAC recognition. Cote also turned in a strong performance, finishing 20th.