Little Three

The Little Three: Amherst, Wesleyan, and Williams began competition in 1910, essentially reviving the Triangular League which began in 1899 and broke up over a dispute about the eligibility of college baseball players who played for pay during the summer.  Amherst ran a dual meet with MIT in 1902; both Williams and Amherst ran in the inaugural New England Championships in 1912; and Wesleyan fielded a team against Bowdoin in 1914.  Wesleyan and Williams met in dual meets in 1920-21 and 1923; Wesleyan ran against both Williams and Amherst in separate triangular meets in 1922.  The first Little Three cross country meet was in 1924.

Amherst then didn't field a team in 1927 and did not return to Little Three competition until 1930 when they won, repeating that triumph in 1931 and 1932.  The next time Amherst won consecutive Little Three meets was 2017-18.

The Little Three was contested as a triangular meet through 1953 before changing to three dual meets the following year which meant all three colleges hosted a Little Three meet every year.  The triangular meet format was resumed in 1971 and has continued through 2019.  From 1924-1942 Williams won 7 Little Three titles plus one shared with Wesleyan, Amherst won 5 plus one shared with Wesleyan.  When competition restarted in 1946, Williams won four straight, followed by Wesleyan winning 16 of 17 from 1950-1966.  From 1967 through 2016 Williams won every year except 1969 (Amherst), 1984 (Wesleyan), and 1987 (Amherst).

Women's competition began in 1976 and Wesleyan won six of the first eleven meets.  Since 1987 Williams has won every year except for Amherst victories in 1999, 2003, 2006-07,2022-23.