CANTON, N.Y. – Amherst entered the NCAA Mideast Regionals as one of the biggest question marks in the field. After an eye-opening performance at the Paul Short Run earlier in the season, the Mammoths had rested key athletes in the weeks leading up to the conference meet, leaving observers unsure of exactly what version of the team would show up. The preview labeled Amherst a "dark horse top team" with the talent to contend for the win, especially if their top group — led by juniors Harrison Dow and Stan Craig, and senior Henry Dennen — could fire at once.

On Saturday, Amherst delivered a strong answer, placing fifth out of 26 teams behind an aggressive, tightly-packed scoring group. Dow, highlighted in the preview as one of the potential best runners in the region, lived up to that billing. Dow surged from 35th at 955 meters to the top 10 by three miles and ultimately finished 12th in 25:22.7, leading the Mammoths.

Another key storyline from the preview was Dennen, who entered the meet with a 28th-place finish at last year's regional. Dennen delivered a steady effort, sitting 39th early before climbing to finish 24th in 25:41.0, helping stabilize Amherst's pack.

The preview also pointed to the potential impact of first-year Carter Bengtson, fifth at Paul Short when Amherst looked its best. Bengtson showed flashes of that form, running as high as eighth at the two-mile split, and scoring as Amherst's fourth man in 29th (25:44.5).

Junior Parker Boyle played a major role as well. After starting in 36th at the mile, he made one of the biggest mid-race moves for Amherst, climbing into the top 20 and finishing 16th in 25:32.7 as the team's second runner.

Senior Thomas Stephens sealed the scoring with a strong middle section, moving from 34th at the mile to 22nd at three miles and closing 30th in 25:46.0. Seniors Drew Stephens (38th, 26:09.0) and Harrison Talcott (40th, 26:15.8) provided displacement support.

Amherst's final scoring five — 12th, 16th, 24th, 29th, and 30th — reflected exactly what the preview anticipated: a high-ceiling team with top-end potential and depth. While the Mammoths didn't quite take the win, they showed signs of the lineup that impressed so heavily at Paul Short and validated their status as a dark horse contender.

All five of Amherst's scoring runners — Dow, Boyle, Dennen, Bengtson and Thomas Stephens — earned All-Region honors by virtue of finishing in the top 35.

With a front-runner in Dow, a veteran presence in Dennen, and a rising talent in Bengtson, Amherst's fifth-place finish suggests that when this group does put it all together, they can compete with the very best in the region, both now and heading into 2026. Both cross country teams look to receive at-large bids to the NCAA Championships, which will be announced on Sunday (Nov. 16).