All nine teams will compete in the 2026 America East Cross Country Championship on Friday.

The event will take place on the campus of UAlbany hosted by the Great Danes. The women will kick off the action at 11:00 a.m. with the 5k race, followed by the men, who are slated to take on the 8k course at 12:00 p.m. For the first time in conference history, ESPN+ will air the championship.

Last season, UMBC's men finished third at the 2025 America East Conference Championships at Hopkinton State Fairgrounds. It marked the Retrievers' first team trophy at the event since they earned a bronze in 2014. UMBC earned its fourth America East Conference team trophy, marking its third bronze finish. The Retrievers placed fourth overall in 2024.

Junior standout Daniel Danilovitz achieved the third-fastest 8k time in program history, finishing fifth overall with a time of 24:31.09. This performance was the best by a Retriever in a decade, matching Austin Hayslett's fifth-place finish.

UMBC placed three additional runners in the top 16, led by sophomore Joey Ensor, who completed the course in 24:53.53. Junior Justin Banks followed closely with a 14th-place finish in 24:56.81, while junior Kieran Mischke finished 16th in 25:01.43.
 
UMBC's women finished sixth at the 2025 America East Conference Championships. Junior Katie Schwaner finished 29^th, recording a time of 18:42.33.

Two current sophomores, Lilly Norcross and Maddie Wassin, also delivered strong performances in their first championship event. Norcross finished 31st with a time of 18:42.86, while Wassin placed 44th in 18:57.86. Senior Katelyn Deal finished 47th with a time of 19:00.87.
 
The Dawgs will be bolstered by the return of their top runner this fall, redshirt senior Lyna Beraich, who finished 3rd at the event in 2024 with a time of 18:37.8.
 
For more information on the upcoming championship, including live results,, visit #AEXC Championship Central. Watch the race live on ESPN+.