West Texas A&M is predicted to win its fourth consecutive Lone Star Conference women's cross country championship according to the 2026 preseason poll, it was announced on Tuesday (Aug. 25). In addition, 28 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 five conference titles overall (also 2012 and 2013), collected 510 points and 30 of the 32 possible first place votes. Head coach Zach Daniel’s Lady Buffs finished ninth at the NCAA Division II Championships and fifth at the South Central Regional.
UT Tyler is the second-place conference pick with 445 points. The Patriots finished third at the conference meet last year. DBU, which won three straight conference title from 2020-22, is the third-place pick with 444 points and one first-place vote. Midwestern State, which has won seven LSC titles since 2008, is the fourth-place pick with 428 points and the final first-place vote.
Oklahoma Christian is the fifth-place selection with 379 points, followed by Cameron (325 points), St. Edward’s (303 points), 2019 LSC champion Lubbock Christian (265 points), Texas A&M International (249 points) and Western New Mexico (245 points) to round out the top 10.
Texas A&M-Kingsville, which won the league crown in 1986, is the 11th-place pick with 201 points. UT Dallas is 12th with 176 points, followed by Eastern New Mexico (138 points), six-time conference champion Angelo State (132 points), UT Permian Basin (78 points) and Sul Ross State (35) to finish out the poll.
The runners to watch list features five LSC All-Conference members from a year ago: WT juniors Naomi Addo and Abigail Abugire; OC graduate student Brooke Latham; UTT senior Finley Hunting; and ENMU sophomore Chama El-Hadiri.
Addo (21:04.8 in the 6K) was named 2025 LSC Runner of the Year, while El-Hadiri earned LSC Freshman of the Year honors.
Notes:
- The LSC women’s cross country season begins as early as Sept. 3. To see the league schedule, click here.
- The LSC Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Nov. 7 at LCU Cross Country Course in Lubbock, Texas. The event will be hosted by LCU.
- The NCAA Division II South Central Regional is scheduled for Nov. 21 at LCU Cross Country Course in Lubbock, Texas.
- The NCAA Division II National Championship is scheduled for Dec. 4 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas.
2026 LSC WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL, PLAYERS TO WATCH
Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Pts. |
| 1 |
West Texas A&M |
30 |
510 |
| 2 |
UT Tyler |
|
445 |
| 3 |
DBU |
1 |
444 |
| 4 |
Midwestern State |
1 |
428 |
| 5 |
Oklahoma Christian |
|
379 |
| 6 |
Cameron |
|
325 |
| 7 |
St. Edward’s |
|
303 |
| 8 |
Lubbock Christian |
|
265 |
| 9 |
Texas A&M International |
|
249 |
| 10 |
Western New Mexico |
|
245 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
201 |
| 12 |
UT Dallas |
|
176 |
| 13 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
138 |
| 14 |
Angelo State |
|
132 |
| 15 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
78 |
| 16 |
Sul Ross State |
|
35 |
Runners to Watch
| Athlete |
Team |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Chasity Benson |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
Biology |
Roby, Texas |
| Ashley Stratton |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
Psychology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Akaya Lightbourne |
Cameron |
Sr. |
Psychology |
Freeport, Bahamas |
| Daira Rojas Vazquez |
Cameron |
So. |
Psychology |
McAllen, Texas |
| Courtney Richman |
DBU |
Sr. |
Leadership |
Katy, Texas |
| Lesli Salas |
DBU |
Sr. |
Commercial Art |
San Angelo, Texas |
| Chama El Hadiri |
Eastern New Mexico |
So. |
Business Admin. & Management |
Marrakech, Morocco |
| Elsa Tagesson |
Eastern New Mexico |
Fr. |
Undecided |
Boraas, Sweeden |
| Reese Pena |
Lubbock Christian |
So. |
Psychology |
Lubbock, Texas |
| Lily Rodriguez |
Lubbock Christian |
So. |
Middle School Education |
Snyder, Texas |
| Grace Pineda |
Midwestern State |
Jr. |
Exercise Physiology |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Brooke Latham |
Oklahoma Christian |
Gr. |
MBA |
Amarillo, Texas |
| Kinley Kite |
Oklahoma Christian |
Jr. |
Elementary Education |
Norman, Okla. |
| Adriana Rodriguez |
St. Edward's |
Jr. |
Social Work |
Dale, Texas |
| Lily Burton |
St. Edward's |
Fr. |
Kinesiology |
Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Eileen Cheruto |
Texas A&M International |
Fr. |
Exercise Science& Kinesiology |
Kapsabet, Kenya |
| Sharon Kemboi |
Texas A&M International |
Fr. |
Nursing |
Eldoret, Nandi, Kenya |
| Kayla Garcia-Trevino |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
So. |
Pre-Physical Therapy |
Kingsville, Texas |
| Joan Jerono |
UT Dallas |
Fr. |
Accounting |
Kilibwoni, Kenya |
| Marianna Salazar |
UT Dallas |
Fr. |
Business Analytics & AI |
Cypress, Texas |
| Celine Maldanado |
UT Permian Basin |
So. |
Criminology |
Midland, Texas |
| Briana Valenzuela |
UT Permian Basin |
Fr. |
Nursing |
Odessa, Texas |
| Finley Hunting |
UT Tyler |
Sr. |
Psychology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Gracie Lander |
UT Tyler |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Plano, Texas |
| Abigail Abugire |
West Texas A&M |
Jr. |
Health Sciences |
Legon, Ghana |
| Naomi Addo |
West Texas A&M |
Jr. |
Health Sciences |
Accra, Ghana |
| Jeannette Rivera |
Western New Mexico |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
El Paso, Texas |
| McKenna Sahd |
Western New Mexico |
Sr. |
Biology |
Angel Fire, N.M. |