Dynasty Continues: Roberts Wesleyan Claims Both ECC Cross Country Preseason Polls and Runner of the Year Awards

COLONIA, N.J. – The Redhawks still rule the cross country trails. Roberts Wesleyan University has once again claimed the top spot in both the men’s and women’s East Coast Conference Cross Country Preseason Polls and they’re not stopping there. The powerhouse program also swept the Preseason Runner of the Year honors, with Jackson Doran earning the men’s award and Rachel Horner-Richardson taking the women’s title. For Doran, the recognition is unanimous, just like his determination to close out a stellar career with one more championship run. The Lockport, N.Y. native has been a force in Redhawks red, finishing runner-up at the 2023 ECC Cross Country Championships with an 8k time of 24:58.8. He carried that momentum into the NCAA Division II East Region Championships, placing sixth in the 10k with a 31:18.9 finish. Though sidelined for the 2024 cross country season, Doran proved his resilience on the track, winning ECC gold in the 800m this past spring with a time of 1:52.71. Horner-Richardson’s unanimous selection is equally well-earned. The senior nursing major from Cornish, N.H., was a breakout star last season, claiming second place in the 5k at the ECC Championships (18:24.9) before repeating her silver-medal performance at the East Region Championships with a 6k time of 22:02.5. Her consistency and competitive drive make her a leading threat in every race she enters. The numbers speak for themselves: and they tell the story of a dynasty. The Redhawk men earned all seven first-place votes for 49 points, extending a title streak that stretches back to 2013. The women were just as dominant, collecting seven first-place votes for 63 points, building on their run of consecutive championships since 2012. Behind Roberts Wesleyan on the men’s side, Daemen secured second place with 40 points, followed by Molloy in third with 32. St. Thomas Aquinas took fourth (28 points), while D’Youville and Queens tied for fifth (20 points each). Staten Island rounded out the poll with seven points. Molloy claimed the runner-up spot in the women’s poll with 49 points and one first-place vote, edging Daemen (48 points) for second. D’Youville landed in fourth with 45 points, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas (28), Queens (23), Staten Island (18), and District of Columbia (14). 2025 ECC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll 1. Roberts Wesleyan - 49 points (7 first-place votes) 2. Daemen - 40 points 3. Molloy - 32 points 4. St. Thomas Aquinas - 28 points 5. D'Youville - 20 points T-5. Queens - 20 points 7. Staten Island - 7 points 2025 ECC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll 1. Roberts Wesleyan - 63 points (7 first-place votes) 2. Molloy - 49 points (1 first-place vote) 3. Daemen - 48 points 4. D'Youville - 45 points 5. St. Thomas Aquinas - 28 points 6. Queens - 23 points 7. Staten Island - 18 points 8. District of Columbia - 14 points
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