Babson College

Russ Brennen is now in his 23nd season at the helm of the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field teams at Babson in 2026-27.

The Beavers have enjoyed success on the cross country trails under Brennen. Babson has had six runners qualify for the NCAA Division III cross country championships, highlighted by three-time qualifier Anthony Rodriguez, who became the program’s first to make it to the NCAAs in 2021 and the first to earn All-America recognition in 2024. He was joined at the nationals by Julia Ivarra in 2024 while Marina Capalbo represented the Babson women at the Division III NCAAs in 2013 and 2014.

The Green and White have produced 15 all-region runners under Brennen, including four-time honoree Rodriguez (2021-24) for the men and three-time honoree Capalbo (2012-14) for the women. The Beavers had a program-best three All-East region men’s runners in 2024, including Rodriguez, Ivarra and Nick Yacoub ‘28.

The Babson men have registered top-10 showings in the team scoring at the NCAA East region championships each of the past five years, including program-bests sixth place in both 2024 and 2025. The women have placed in the top 20 the past four seasons, including 16th place in both 2022 and 2024.

Brennen has guided the Babson men to six top-3 team finishes at the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championships, including each of the past five years. The Beaver men registered a program-best 73 points to finish third in 2024. The women’s program has posted back-to-back seventh-place finishes at the NEWMAC in 2024-25, just shy of the program-best sixth-place showings back in 2010-11.

The Beavers have produced 12 All-NEWMAC men’s runners since 2010, including seven since 2021, while the women have achieved seven All-NEWMAC selections under Brennen.

A 1992 graduate of RIT, Brennen was a member of the Tigers’ cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field teams. After receiving his master’s degree from Syracuse University in 2001, he spent three years as an assistant coach at Babson prior to taking over as head coach ahead of the 2004-05 season.