St. Lawrence enters the 2026 season coming off a runner-up finish at the Liberty League Championships, a result that head coach Kate Howard called the product of a young roster that grew into itself over the course of the fall.

"We're looking ahead to the 2026 cross country with plenty of excitement and enthusiasm," said Saints head coach Kate Howard. "We return a terrific group of veteran team members and we are welcoming a bright group of first-year team members who will wear the scarlet and brown proudly for the first time this fall.  Avery, Quinn, and Carly are a tremendous leadership group for this team and will play a pivotal role both on and off the course this season as we look to compete at the highest level in the Liberty League, regional, and national level."

The Saints placed four runners among the top 14 finishers at the conference meet, held on the Ronald C. Hoffmann Cross Country Course on the SLU campus, to secure second place as a team. Avery Blanchard led the way with a sixth-place finish in 22:51.1, earning All-Liberty League First Team honors. Charlotte Blake and Quinn Sirgany followed in ninth and 10th, crossing in 23:04.1 and 23:04.8, respectively, both earning Second Team recognition. Madison Beaudoin rounded out the group of honorees with a 14th-place finish in 23:20.2, also landing on the Second Team. Blanchard, Sirgany, and Carly Zack will be the team captains for the upcoming season. 

Blanchard's season continued into November, when she returned to the NCAA championships for the second consecutive year. She improved on her previous national finish by five positions, crossing in 23:30.2. With Blanchard, Blake, Sirgany and Beaudoin all set to return, the Saints bring back the core that carried them to a second-place league finish and a national-meet appearance.

Isobel Koger leads a class of four first-years, as she enters the fold after placing fifth indivudually at the Vermont cross country championships in 2025. She is joined by Fiona Tobin, Caroline Hennessy, and Janie Urban as first-years.

That success came from a roster with senior leadership. Cameran Stone and Adriana Cecchetelli served as the team's only two seniors and its captains, mentoring a younger group.

The Saints open the season with a trip to Plattsburgh, N.Y. for the 5K Cardinal Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5 before hosting the Hoffmann Invitational on Sept. 19. They then travel to the RPI Fairgrounds Showdown on Sept. 26 and the Paul Short Run at Lehigh on Oct. 3.

The regular season wraps up at Connecticut College on Oct. 17, setting up the Liberty League Championships at Bard on Oct. 31. From there, the postseason continues at the NCAA Mideast Regional at Wickham Park in Manchester, Conn., on Nov. 14, with the NCAA Championships to follow at Carleton College.