Championships in cross
country began during the first year of the conference in 1985 when it was
the New England Women's 6. The first championship was won by host Massachusettes
Institute of Technology. In 1986, Wellesley College won the title at Wheaton
College. The Smith College Pioneers then ran off four straight from 1987
to 1990 to bring their total to five crowns. In 1991, Brandeis University
broke up the string with their victory at Wellesley College. Mount Holyoke
College won their first title in 1992 at Wheaton College. Wellesley College
emerged as a conference power with four straight team championships from
1993 to 1996. MIT returned to the winner's circle in 1997 to capture the
last championship of the NEW 8. In 1998, the conference began sponsoring
men's sports and changed the name to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic
Conference. The first championship was hosted by new conference member United
States Coast Guard Academy and was won by Wellesley College. In 1999, the
championship was hosted by Mount Holyoke College and was won for the second
straight year by Wellesley. In 2000, Wellesley College captured their third
consecutive title at the championship meet, which was held at Franklin Park.
The 2001 championship, also at Franklin Park, was won by MIT. Wellesley
hosted the championship in 2002 and earned its fourth title in five years.
MIT regained the NEWMAC championship in 2003 with a victory at a new course
designed by Clark University. In 2004, Wheaton College edged Wellesley College by one point to capture their first NEWMAC Championship.
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