NORTHAMPTON - The 2026 Smith cross country schedule was released Monday, with the first competition scheduled for Saturday, September 12. The Bears have five meets before the championship season starts, with the NEWMAC Championships set for Saturday, October 31 in Northampton on their home course. 

The Bears are entering their third season with Jack Wood as the team's Director of Cross Country and Track & Field. Joining Wood's staff are Kora Malacek, Carrie Burr, Anders Larson and Lila Gilmer. 

Here is a breakdown of the 2026 schedule: 

• The team will open the season on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Trinity Invitational
• Smith hosts the Ellen O'Neil Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19 which will be a preview of the 2026 NEWMAC Championship course
• The Bears head to New Hampshire for the Keene State College Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 3 before the James Earley Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Westfield State
• Smith's final tune up will be the Connecticut College Invitational on Saturday, October 17
• Smith will welcome conference men's and women's teams to its home course on Saturday, October 31 for the 2026 NEWMAC Championships. Two of Smith's top three finishers at this meet last year are back, led by rising senior Lucy Kreipke (Princeton, NJ/Princeton). Smith finished fourth out of 12 teams at the 2025 conference championship meet. 
• On Saturday, Nov. 14, Smith's top seven will head to Trinity Wickham Park in Manchester, CT for the NCAA Mideast Regional. Kreipke is the Bears' top returning finisher from last year's regional meet, having placed 26th. As a team, Smith placed 11th. 
• Based on the results of Regionals, the Bears may have the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Championships in Northfield, MN on Saturday, November 21. 

About Smith Athletics Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.