West Texas A&M is predicted to win its 13th consecutive Lone Star Conference men's cross country championship according to the 2025 preseason poll, it was announced on Thursday (Aug. 28). In addition, 25 athletes were named to the runners to watch list.
The preseason poll is voted on by LSC head coaches and sports information directors, while the runners to watch are nominated by their member institution.
West Texas A&M, which has won every LSC title since 2013, collected 27 of the 28 possible first place votes and 419 points. Head coach Zach Daniel’s Buffs finished fourth in the NCAA Division II National Championships last year and third at the South Central Regional.
DBU is the runner-up pick with 343 points, just one point ahead of third-place Western New Mexico. Last year’s conference runner-up St. Edward’s is in the fourth spot, followed by Texas A&M International (321) to round out the top 5. SEU had the other first-place vote.
UT Tyler is the sixth-place selection with 282 points. Two-time LSC champion Texas A&M-Kingsville (1984 and 1986) is picked seventh with 235 points, followed by Cameron (229 points), Oklahoma Christian (225 points) and Lubbock Christian to complete the top 10.
Angelo State is in 11th place with 138 points and new league member UT Dallas (118 points) is in the 12th spot. Two-time conference champion Eastern New Mexico (2011 and 2012) is 13th and Sul Ross State (38 points) finished out the poll.
The runners to watch list features at least one athlete from all 14 teams and three LSC All-Conference members from a year ago: WT seniors Adrian Legarreta and Matthys Bourse, and UT Tyler junior David Soto. Legarreta finished 10th at nationals with a 10K time of 29:55.3. WNMU junior Michael Castorena, who was an LSC All-Academic Team member in 2024, is also on the watch list.
Notes:
- The LSC men’s cross country season begins as early as Sept. 4. To see the league schedule, click here.
- The LSC Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Oct. 24 at AP Ranch in Fort Worth, Texas. The event will be hosted by DBU.
- The NCAA Division II South Central Regional is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Walking Stick Golf Club in Pueblo, Colo.
- The NCAA Division II National Championship is scheduled for Nov. 22 at Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis.
2025 LSC MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL, RUNNERS TO WATCH
Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st) |
Total |
| 1 |
West Texas A&M (27) |
419 |
| 2 |
DBU |
343 |
| 3 |
Western New Mexico |
342 |
| 4 |
St. Edward’s (1) |
336 |
| 5 |
Texas A&M International |
321 |
| 6 |
UT Tyler |
282 |
| 7 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
235 |
| 8 |
Cameron |
229 |
| 9 |
Oklahoma Christian |
225 |
| 10 |
Lubbock Christian |
165 |
| 11 |
Angelo State |
138 |
| 12 |
UT Dallas |
118 |
| 13 |
Eastern New Mexico |
113 |
| 14 |
Sul Ross State |
38 |
Runners to Watch
| Athlete |
Team |
Cl |
Major |
Hometown |
| Austin Souther |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Alvord, Texas |
| Alex Teffu |
Cameron |
Jr. |
Criminal Justice |
Mashashane, South Africa |
| Miquel Cruz Bellido |
Cameron |
So. |
Business |
Artes, Spain |
| Jeb Williamson |
DBU |
Sr. |
Cyber Security |
Kaufman, Texas |
| Isaac Pendley |
DBU |
Sr. |
Entrepreneurship |
Huntsville, Texas |
| Thomas Aerdts |
Eastern New Mexico |
So. |
Psychology |
Venlo, Netherlands |
| Eloy Serrano Borrego |
Eastern New Mexico |
Fr. |
Undecided |
Talavera de la Reina, Spain |
| Gavin Morrison |
Lubbock Christian |
Jr. |
Ecology & Conservation |
Lubbock, Texas |
| Tegen Arega |
Oklahoma Christian |
Gr. |
Nursing |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Cole Powell |
Oklahoma Christian |
So. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Bethany, Okla. |
| Arlo Gonzales |
St. Edward's |
So. |
Kinesiology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| AJ Pena |
St. Edward's |
Sr. |
Criminal Justice |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Carles Guerro |
Sul Ross State |
Sr. |
Business Administration |
Piedras Negras |
| Rayan Kipchirchir |
Texas A&M International |
Fr. |
Kinesiology |
Eldoret, Kenya |
| Ian Rono |
Texas A&M International |
Fr. |
Nursing |
Eldoret, Kenya |
| Leon Doran |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Fr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Berkhamsted, England |
| Abner Villanueva |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Jr. |
Animal Science |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Alex Bozhilov |
UT Dallas |
So. |
Finance |
Bulgaria |
| Frank Douglas |
UT Dallas |
Jr. |
Visual and Perf. Arts |
Rockwall, Texas |
| David Soto |
UT Tyler |
Jr. |
Finance |
Winnsboro, Texas |
| Chris Kopecky |
UT Tyler |
So. |
Nursing BSN |
East Bernard, Texas |
| Adrian Legarreta |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Sports & Ex. Science |
Friona, Texas |
| Matthys Bourse |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
Engineering |
Langueux, France |
| Samuel Ketcham |
Western New Mexico |
Jr. |
Accounting |
Goodyear, Ariz. |
| Michael Castorena |
Western New Mexico |
Jr. |
Business/Accounting |
El Paso, Texas |