West Texas A&M and DBU are both favored to retain their Lone Star Conference men’s and women’s cross country titles as the league released the annual cross country preseason polls on Tuesday.
The league’s preseason poll reflects the opinions of LSC head coaches, sports information directors, and various media representatives throughout the region.
WT topped the men’s preseason poll picking up 32 of 35 first-place votes and 486 total points as the Buffs were tipped to win their 10th consecutive title. The holders of the second-longest championship run in LSC history claimed their ninth title in record fashion, with a margin of 101 points over second place.
DBU was selected second in the poll, with one first-place vote and 433 points. The Patriots ranked third in 2021, marking their highest finish since joining the LSC. St. Edward’s landed third with 400 points, followed by UT Tyler (346) in fourth and Texas A&M International (334) in fifth.
Oklahoma Christian earned one first-place vote in sixth with 323 points. The Eagles were preferred ahead of Western New Mexico (243), Cameron (233), UT Permian Basin (212, 1 first-place) and Lubbock Christian in the top 10.
The Lady Patriots were chosen to clinch a third consecutive LSC title in women’s cross country, bringing in 29 of 37 first-place nods and 547 points. DBU edged out a second straight championship in 2021, besting WT 35-38 in the closest race since 2017.
The Lady Buffs captured second place in the preseason poll, receiving 525 total points and eight first-place votes. TAMIU was tabbed to match its highest conference finish from 2021, gaining 457 points in third. LCU took fourth place acquiring 400 points and OC gathered 382 points in fifth.
Eastern New Mexico was pegged sixth with 378 points, trailed by Midwestern State (362), SEU (302), CU (269) and Angelo State (203) to complete the top 10.
Additionally, 36 runners – 17 men and 19 women – were selected for the first LSC cross country preseason runners to watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution for recognition.
The LSC’s 14 men’s and 15 women’s teams open their seasons in early September. The 2022 LSC Cross Country Championships hosted by Midwestern State are slated for Wichita Falls, Texas, on Saturday, November 5.
| 2022 LSC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll |
| Rank |
School |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
West Texas A&M |
32 |
486 |
| 2 |
DBU |
1 |
433 |
| 3 |
St. Edward's |
|
400 |
| 4 |
UT Tyler |
|
346 |
| 5 |
Texas A&M International |
|
334 |
| 6 |
Oklahoma Christian |
1 |
323 |
| 7 |
Western New Mexico |
|
243 |
| 8 |
Cameron |
|
233 |
| 9 |
UT Permian Basin |
1 |
212 |
| 10 |
Lubbock Christian |
|
198 |
| 11 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
162 |
| 12 |
UAFS |
|
126 |
| 13 |
Angelo State |
|
109 |
| 14 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
70 |
| 2022 LSC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll |
| Rank |
School |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
DBU |
29 |
547 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M |
8 |
525 |
| 3 |
Texas A&M International |
|
457 |
| 4 |
Lubbock Christian |
|
400 |
| 5 |
Oklahoma Christian |
|
382 |
| 6 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
378 |
| 7 |
Midwestern State |
|
362 |
| 8 |
St. Edward's |
|
302 |
| 9 |
Cameron |
|
269 |
| 10 |
Angelo State |
|
203 |
| 11 |
UAFS |
|
178 |
| 12 |
UT Tyler |
|
164 |
| 13 |
Western New Mexico |
|
140 |
| 14 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
73 |
| 15 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
60 |
LSC Men's Cross Country Runners to Watch
| Name |
School |
Class |
Major |
Hometown/High School |
| Robert Neeley |
Angelo State |
SO |
Mathematics |
Fort Worth, Texas/Timber Creek HS |
| Seth Blanco |
Angelo State |
JR |
Exercise Science |
Lubbock, Texas/Lubbock HS |
| Edward Kipruto |
Cameron |
JR |
Biology |
Nairobi, Kenya/Soliat Boys Secondary |
| Jason Cousineau |
Cameron |
SR |
Biology |
Fergus, Ontario/Centre Wellington HS |
| Noah Metzger |
DBU |
SR |
M.A. in Theological Studies |
McKinney, Texas/McKinney HS |
| Adam Whitehead |
DBU |
JR |
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics |
Gilbert, Ariz./Arete Preparatory Acad. |
| Luis Holguin |
Eastern New Mexico |
SO |
Criminology |
El Paso, Texas/Burgess HS |
| Devis Cheruiyot |
Eastern New Mexico |
SR |
Computer Science |
Eldoret, Kenya/Chemuswa HS |
| Carlos Barraza |
Lubbock Christian |
SR |
Art Education |
Lubbock, Texas/Lubbock HS |
| Tristan Young |
Lubbock Christian |
SR |
Natural Ecology and Conservation |
Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert Classical Acad. |
| Cody Fountain |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
SO |
Environmental Science |
Portland, Texas/Gregory Portland HS |
| Carlos Hernandez |
UAFS |
JR |
Business Administration |
Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine HS |
| Lawson Douglas |
UAFS |
SO |
English |
Rogers, Ark./Rogers Heritage HS |
| Noah Perez |
UT Permian Basin |
JR |
Biology |
Pflugerville, Texas/Hendrickson HS |
| Jared Myers |
UT Permian Basin |
SR |
Business |
Loveland, Colo./Loveland HS |
| Innocent Murwanashyaka |
West Texas A&M |
SR |
Criminal Justice |
St. Paul, Minn./Como Park HS |
| Harry Louradour |
West Texas A&M |
SO |
Mechanical Engineering |
Le Vigen, France/Lycee Turgot Limoges |
LSC Women's Cross Country Runners to Watch
| Name |
School |
Class |
Major |
Hometown/High School |
| Mary Brown |
Angelo State |
SO |
Undeclared |
Georgetown, Texas/East View HS |
| Allison Vaughn |
Angelo State |
JR |
Exercise Science |
San Angelo, Texas/Christoval HS |
| Daesha Brathwaite |
Cameron |
SO |
Psychology |
Bridgetown, Barbados/Combermere School |
| Belle Vignes |
Cameron |
JR |
Psychology |
Ponchatoula, La./Ponchatoula HS |
| Madison Brown |
DBU |
SR |
Biology |
Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock Christian Acad. |
| Marissa Insinna |
DBU |
SR |
Psychology and Commercial Art |
McKinney, Texas/McKinney North HS |
| Marta Pascoa |
Eastern New Mexico |
SO |
Business |
Setubal, Portugal/Nivel Secondary |
| Lethabo Seema |
Eastern New Mexico |
SR |
Management |
Centurion, South Africa |
| Madelyn Merrell |
Lubbock Christian |
JR |
Biology |
Idalou, Texas/Idalou HS |
| Chloe Trull |
Lubbock Christian |
JR |
Business, AgriBusiness |
Ropesville, Texas/Ropes HS |
| Elizabeth Butzke |
Midwestern State |
SR |
Education |
Mansfield, Texas/Mansfield HS |
| Alexandra Feller |
Midwestern State |
SR |
MBA |
McKinney, Texas/McKinney HS |
| Odette Fernandez |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
SO |
Pre-Pharmacy |
Grulla, Texas/Grulla HS |
| Joyce Ferguson |
UAFS |
SO |
Nursing |
West Fork, Ark./West Fork HS |
| Kari Sosa |
UAFS |
SR |
Psychology |
Fort Worth, Texas/Boswell HS |
| Amber Martin |
UT Permian Basin |
SO |
Undecided |
El Paso, Texas/Eastwood HS |
| Odalis Lujan |
UT Permian Basin |
SO |
Undecided |
Odessa, Texas/Odessa HS |
| Florance Uwajeneza |
West Texas A&M |
SR |
Nursing |
St. Paul, Minn./Como Park HS |
| Eleonora Curtabbi |
West Texas A&M |
SR |
Environmental Science |
Turin, Italy/Liceo Artístico Aldo Passoni |