2024 LSC Women's Cross Country Schedule
West Texas A&M is projected to defend its Lone Star Conference women's cross country title in 2024 preseason polling of head coaches and sports information staff announced Thursday (Aug. 29) by the conference.
The Lady Buffs totaled 444 points with 25 first-place votes to list first in the 2024 preseason poll. After four straight runner-up showings, WT broke through last season to claim its third overall LSC women's cross country championship. DBU, who owns three of the last four LSC titles, tallied four first-place votes and 416 points for the No. 2 spot in the poll. Midwestern State (355 pts.), St. Edward's (322), Oklahoma Christian (318) and Angelo State (283, 1 first-place vote) finished in the No. 3 through No. 6 spots.
Lubbock Christian (247), Cameron (234), Western New Mexico (206) and UT Tyler (199) complete the predicted top 10 teams followed by Texas A&M International (169), Texas A&M-Kingsville (168), Eastern New Mexico (114), UT Permian Basin (84) and LSC newcomer Sul Ross State (41).
Women's cross country Runners to Watch in 2024 includes returning all-conference, all-region and academic team honorees among the 28 athletes.
Leading the watch list is a trio of top 10 finishers at last season's LSC Championship, led by runner-up
Elise Leveel (Carquebut, France), a junior from West Texas A&M who claimed all-conference and all-region awards. DBU duo senior
Jenna Howard (Erie, Colo.) and sophomore
Lesli Salas (San Angelo, Texas) placed fourth and seventh, respectively, at the LSC meet with Salas adding an All-South Central Region finish.
All-conference returners -- Lubbock Christian senior
Madelyn Merrell (Idalou, Texas) and Midwestern State junior
Ella Pando (Weatherford, Texas) – join 2023 LSC Women's Cross Country Academic Athlete of the Year
Ivanova Yanes (Hollywood, Fla.), a junior from Texas A&M-Kingsville, and All-Academic
Itzela Darkenwald (Conroe, Texas), Western New Mexico senior, among Runners to Watch.
Lone Star Conference women's teams open the 2024 cross country season over the September 5-7 weekend. The LSC Championships are set for Saturday, October 26 hosted by Texas A&M-Kingsville (Kingsville, Texas). The NCAA Division II postseason starts November 9 at the South Central Regional hosted by MSU Denver and closes with the national championship November 23 in Sacramento, Calif.
LSC Women's Cross Country 2024 Preseason Poll
As voted by head coaches and sports information staff
| Rank |
Team (1st pl. votes) |
Pts. |
| 1 |
West Texas A&M (25) |
444 |
| 2 |
DBU (4) |
416 |
| 3 |
Midwestern State |
355 |
| 4 |
St. Edward's |
322 |
| 5 |
Oklahoma Christian |
318 |
| 6 |
Angelo State (1) |
283 |
| 7 |
Lubbock Christian |
247 |
| 8 |
Cameron |
234 |
| 9 |
Western New Mexico |
206 |
| 10 |
UT Tyler |
199 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M International |
169 |
| 12 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
168 |
| 13 |
Eastern New Mexico |
114 |
| 14 |
UT Permian Basin |
84 |
| 15 |
Sul Ross State |
41 |
LSC Women's Cross Country 2024 Runners to Watch
Submitted by each team
| Athlete |
Team |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Mary Brown |
Angelo State |
Sr |
Kinesiology |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Manon Cady |
Cameron |
Fr |
Sports and Exercise Science |
Angers, France |
| Kaat de Staercke |
Cameron |
Fr |
Business Administration |
Zemst, Belgium |
| Jenna Howard |
DBU |
Sr |
Elementary Education |
Erie, Colo. |
| Lesli Salas |
DBU |
So |
Commercial Art |
San Angelo, Texa |
| Sylvia Lagat |
Eastern New Mexico |
Fr |
Biology |
Eldoret, Kenya |
| Elizabeth Lujan-Towles |
Eastern New Mexico |
Fr |
Visual Art |
Chimayo, N.M. |
| Madelyn Merrell |
Lubbock Christian |
Sr |
Biology |
Idalou, Texas |
| Chloe Trull |
Lubbock Christian |
Sr |
Pre-Veterinary, AgriBusiness |
Ropesville, Texas |
| Jadyn Dangerfield |
Midwestern State |
Jr |
Computer Science |
Lancaster, Texas |
| Ella Pando |
Midwestern State |
Jr |
Biology |
Weatherford, Texas |
| Andrea Garcia Gonzalez |
Oklahoma Christian |
Sr |
Finance |
Leon, Spain |
| Kinley Kite |
Oklahoma Christian |
Fr |
Early Childhood Education |
Norman, Okla. |
| Mia Rivera |
St. Edward's |
Jr |
Kinesiology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Jordan Sanders |
St. Edward's |
Sr |
Kinesiology |
Keller, Texas |
| Alexandra Nava-Elizondo |
Sul Ross State |
Fr |
Animal Science |
Baytown, Texas |
| Sada Lara |
Sul Ross State |
Fr |
Kinesiology/Human Perform. |
O'Donnell, Texas |
| Mercy Kosgei |
Texas A&M International |
Fr |
Nursing |
Eldoret, Kenya |
| Maya Espinosa |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Sr |
Business |
Baker, Fla. |
| Ivanova Yanes |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Jr |
Kinesiology |
Hollywood, Fla. |
| Alauna Stackhouse |
UT Permian Basin |
Gr |
Humanities |
Brenham, Texas |
| Kayla Cepeda |
UT Permian Basin |
Jr |
Exercise Science |
Mission, Texas |
| Elayna Metzger |
UT Tyler |
Jr |
Kinesiology |
Tyler, Texas |
| Calista Turner |
UT Tyler |
Fr |
Economics |
Athens, Texas |
| Elise Leveel |
West Texas A&M |
Jr |
Communications |
Carquebut, France |
| Julie LaFare |
West Texas A&M |
Jr |
Business |
Uzes, France |
| Itzela Darkenwald |
Western New Mexico |
Sr |
Kinesiology |
Conroe, Texas |
| Aubrey Lozoya |
Western New Mexico |
Jr |
Zoology |
Albuquerque, N.M. |