RICHARDSON, Texas ---- Three-time defending women's cross country champion
Dallas Baptist is predicted to post a fourth Lone Star Conference title in preseason polling by the head coaches, sports information directors and select media released today by the conference.
The Patriots received 21 of 31 possible first-place votes in the poll and totaled 460 points, outdistancing second place pick West Texas A&M who finished with 450 points and nine first-place votes. Oklahoma Christian received the other first-place vote and is predicted to place third (375 points) ahead of St. Edward's (367) and Midwestern State (366).
Picked to finish sixth through 10th were Cameron (269), Texas A&M International (263), Lubbock Christian (243), Western New Mexico (204) and Arkansas Fort Smith (196). Angelo State (151), UT Tyler (146), Eastern New Mexico (97), Texas A&M-Kingsville (81) and UT Permian Basin (43) complete the preseason predictions.
Twenty-five athletes are LSC Runners to Watch in women's cross country. West Texas A&M senior
Eleonora Curtabbi (Turin, Italy) is the top returning competitor in the LSC, placing runner-up in the Division II South Central Regional last season between finishing third at the conference championships and sixth at the Division II national meet. Three other Top 10 finishers in the 2022 LSC Championships also return: Dallas Baptist junior
KayCee Keller (La Vernia, Texas), 5th; West Texas A&M junior
Betty Bajika (Arlington, Texas), 8th; and
Mia Rivera (El Paso, Texas) of St. Edward's, 9th. The trio competed at the South Central Regional with Keller and Bajika joining Curtabbi at the Division II Championship meet.
Lone Star Conference 2023 women's cross country seasons get underway the September 1 weekend. The Lone Star Conference Championships are scheduled Saturday, October 21 hosted by Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M. The NCAA Division II South Central Regionals are hosted by LSC member Lubbock Christian on November 4 at the LCU Cross Country Course. The Division II national final will be in Joplin, Mo., November 18.
2023 LSC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st pl. votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Dallas Baptist (21) |
460 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M (9) |
450 |
| 3 |
Oklahoma Christian (1) |
375 |
| 4 |
St. Edward's |
367 |
| 5 |
Midwestern State |
366 |
| 6 |
Cameron |
269 |
| 7 |
Texas A&M International |
263 |
| 8 |
Lubbock Christian |
243 |
| 9 |
Western New Mexico |
204 |
| 10 |
UAFS |
196 |
| 11 |
Angelo State |
151 |
| 12 |
UT Tyler |
146 |
| 13 |
Eastern New Mexico |
97 |
| 14 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
81 |
| 15 |
UT Permian Basin |
43 |
LSC Runners to Watch in the 2023 Season
| Athlete |
Team |
Cl |
Major |
Hometown |
| Maritza Alvarez |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr |
Social Work |
Roswell, N.M. |
| Betty Bajika |
West Texas A&M |
Jr |
Nursing |
Arlington, Texas |
| Daesha Brathwaite |
Cameron |
Jr |
Psychology |
Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Faith Brothers |
St. Edward's |
Gr |
Behav. Neuroscience |
Friendswood, Texas |
| Elizabeth Butzke |
Midwestern State |
Sr |
Education |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Eleonora Curtabbi |
West Texas A&M |
Sr |
Biology |
Turin, Italy |
| Itzela Darkenwald |
Western New Mexico |
So |
Kinesiology |
Conroe, Texas |
| Kaylyn de la Rosa |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr |
Commun. Disorders |
Rio Grande City, Texas |
| Joyce Ferguson |
UAFS |
Jr |
Nursing |
West Fork, Ark. |
| Andrea Garcia Gonzalez |
Oklahoma Christian |
Jr |
Finance, Accounting |
Leon, Spain |
| Miranda Hernandez |
UT Permian Basin |
Jr |
English |
Alvin, Texas |
| Jenna Howard |
DBU |
Sr |
Elementary Education |
Erie, Colo. |
| Marigold Hunter |
UT Tyler |
So |
Biology |
Troup, Texas |
| KayCee Keller |
DBU |
Jr |
Biblical Studies |
La Vernia, Texas |
| Beverlyne Kipchumba |
Texas A&M International |
Jr |
Nursing |
Kapsabet, Kenya |
| Faith Kiprotich |
Texas A&M International |
Gr |
Nursing |
Kapkoi, Kenya |
| Jacinda Kwambai |
Oklahoma Christian |
Sr |
Nursing |
Kenya |
| Aubrey Lozoya |
Western New Mexico |
So |
Zoology |
Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Jennifer Martinez |
UAFS |
Sr |
Psychology |
Green Forest, Ark. |
| Madelyn Merrill |
Lubbock Christian |
So |
Biology |
Idalou, Texas |
| Elayna Metzger |
UT Tyler |
So |
Pre-Nursing |
Tyler, Texas |
| Ella Pando |
Midwestern State |
So |
Biology |
Weatherford, Texas |
| Mia Rivera |
St. Edward's |
So |
Kinesiology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Chloe Trull |
Lubbock Christian |
Sr |
Agriculture Business |
Ropesville, Texas |
| Belle Vignes |
Cameron |
Sr |
Psychology |
Ponchatoula, La. |