SUNY - Canton Women's Cross Country

John Kennedy begins his 17th year as the head coach of the men's cross country team during the 2025-26 academic year. Kennedy will also coach the women's cross country team with wife, Katie, assisting.   The Roos hosted a successful North Atlantic Conference championship in October 2022 hosting nine men's teams and eight women's teams on SUNY Canton's campus.  Following the 2016 season Coach Kennedy was named the Association of Division III Independents Co-Coach of the Year, while freshman Anthony Fazio was named to the All-Independent Second Team and an AD3I Runner of the Week.  In 2010, Kennedy led the Roos to the Sunrise Conference Championship and was named the conference's Coach of the Year in men's cross country. He has coached NAIA National Meet qualifiers and USCAA All-Americans Justin Richardson and Jonathan Flint. Kennedy, who is currently the Director of Residence Life, is no stranger to SUNY Canton. He earned a one-year certificate as an automotive advisor and an Associate's degree in Business Administration from the school in 2000. In addition to working at SUNY Canton, Kennedy has been the head track and field coach at Gouverneur Central School and an assistant coach with the Canton Central indoor track and field team. Kennedy ran competitively in both cross country and track at SUNY Geneseo, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He received his Master's degree in Counseling and Development from St. Lawrence University in 2004 and is certified as a New York State Provisional School Counselor. Kennedy currently lives in Canton with his wife, Katie and daughter, Maggie. (Updated 8/23/25)

Katie Kennedy will begin her eighth year as an assistant men's & women's cross country coach during the 2025-26 academic year. She spent eight seasons as head coach of the women’s cross country team. The Roos hosted a successful North Atlantic Conference championship in October 2022 hosting nine men's teams and eight women's teams on SUNY Canton's campus.  Sophomore Aine McMorrow was honored with weekly awards 10 times during the 2016 season including being a six-time Association of Division III Independents Runner of the WEek, a two-time AD3I Runner of the Month and two-time United States Collegiate Athletic Association Runner of the Week. McMorrow finished in second place at the 2016 USCAA National Championships and was a First Team All-American for the second consecutive season, while being named the AD3I Runner of the Year and a First Team All-Independent honoree. Meanwhile, freshman Madeline Hewitt earned Third Team All-Independent honors recording five Top 20 performances during her rookie season. The 2015 season saw Coach Kennedy guide freshman phenom McMorrow to the USCAA National Championship as she bested the 120-runner field by 25 seconds. Overall the rookie won five races during her freshman season and finished in the top three in all eight races she competed in. The Roos also finished in the top three as a team in five of the eight races they took part in.   Kennedy began working with the men’s and women’s cross country programs as an assistant coach in the fall of 2009. Alongside head coach and husband, John Kennedy, she helped lead the men’s team to the 2010 Sunrise Conference Championship. In 2010, she was named Head Women’s Cross Country Coach. Since that time she has recruited talented runners and made significant strides to develop the women’s program. Under Kennedy’s leadership, her team has finished in the top 10 at the USCAA National Meet for three consecutive seasons (2012, 2013, 2014). She has coached ECAC Athletes and Rookies of the Week, USCAA Athletes of the Week, and USCAA Academic All-Americans.   Kennedy competed for the SUNY Geneseo cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams for four years and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication in 2003. She specialized in the 800 meters and steeplechase and was a member of the SUNYAC All-Academic Team.   Kennedy earned a Master’s degree in English and Communication from SUNY Potsdam in 2005. In addition to coaching athletes, she also coaches and mentors students in the capacity of Career Services Counselor with SUNY Canton’s Career Services Office. Kennedy lives in Canton with her husband, John, the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach and Director of Residence Life, and daughter, Maggie. (Updated 8/23/25)