West Texas A&M is predicted to win its 14th consecutive Lone Star Conference men's cross country championship according to the 2026 preseason poll, it was announced on Monday (Aug. 24). 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 389 points and 25 of the 28 possible first place votes. Head coach Zach Daniel’s Buffs finished 14th in the NCAA Division II National Championships last year and fifth at the South Central Regional.
DBU is the runner-up pick with 359 points and two first-place votes. UT Tyler is ranked third with 322 points and the final first-place vote.
Oklahoma Christian is the fourth spot with 295 points. Cameron is ranked fifth with 249 points, followed by Lubbock Christian (162 points), UT Dallas (209 points), St. Edward’s (198 points), Texas A&M International (166 points) and Western New Mexico (162 points) to round out the top 10.
Two-time conference champion Texas A&M-Kingsville is in 11th place with 146 points. Angelo State is ranked 12th, followed by two-time league champion Eastern New Mexico (73 points) and Sul Ross State (35 points) to finish out the poll.
The runners to watch list features seven LSC All-Conference members from a year ago: TAMIU sophomore and defending conference champion Ian Rono (23:31.5 9 in the 8K); WT graduate student Tommaso Toppi; SEU senior Ario Gonzales; UTT sophomore Grayson Williams; CU senior Victor Ramos; UTD junior Alexander Bozhilov; and DBU sophomore Hudson Joseph. Rono was named the 2025 LSC Runner of the Year, Toppi was Newcomer of the Year and Williams was Freshman of the Year.
Gonzales is the reigning LSC Men’s Cross Country Academic Athlete of the Year. WNMU senior Samuel Ketcham, who is also a runner to watch, was also an Academic All-LSC selection.
Notes:
- The LSC men’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 MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL, PLAYERS TO WATCH
Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Pts. |
| 1 |
West Texas A&M |
25 |
389 |
| 2 |
DBU |
2 |
357 |
| 3 |
UT Tyler |
1 |
322 |
| 4 |
Oklahoma Christian |
295 |
| 5 |
Cameron |
|
249 |
| 6 |
Lubbock Christian |
233 |
| 7 |
UT Dallas |
|
209 |
| 8 |
St. Edward’s |
|
198 |
| 9 |
Texas A&M International |
166 |
| 10 |
Western New Mexico |
162 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
146 |
| 12 |
Angelo State |
106 |
| 13 |
Eastern New Mexico |
73 |
| 14 |
Sul Ross State |
35 |
Runners to Watch
| Athlete |
Team |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Alex Hauck |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
Biology |
Salado, Texas |
| Morghen Vawter |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
Geoscience |
Conroe, Texas |
| Victor Ramos |
Cameron |
Sr. |
Sport and Exercise Science |
Muros, Spain |
| Miquel Cruz |
Cameron |
Sr. |
Business Administration |
Artes, Spain |
| Hudson Joseph |
DBU |
So. |
Management |
Richardson, Texas |
| David Salas |
DBU |
So. |
Biology: Pre-Dental |
San Angelo, Texas |
| Isaac Lacey |
Eastern New Mexico |
Fr. |
Business |
Farmington, N.M. |
| Rodrigo Pinales |
Eastern New Mexico |
Fr. |
Undecided |
El Paso, Texas |
| Alfons Rawall |
Lubbock Christian |
Sr. |
Economics |
Goteborg, Sweden |
| Matthew Gordon |
Lubbock Christian |
Sr. |
Business Administration |
Guyana |
| Cole Davenport |
Oklahoma Christian |
Jr. |
Computer Science |
Edmond, Okla. |
| Blake Morrison |
Oklahoma Christian |
Jr. |
Business |
Lubbock, Texas |
| Arlo Gonazales |
St. Edward's |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Ben Bayly |
St. Edward's |
Gr. |
MBA – Business Admin. |
Sudbury, England |
| Shamil Kiprono |
Texas A&M International |
Fr. |
Nursing |
Eldoret, Kenya |
| Ian Rono |
Texas A&M International |
So. |
Nursing |
Eldoret, Kenya |
| Roberto Alejandro |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Jr. |
Engineering |
Laredo, Texas |
| Alex Bozhilov |
UT Dallas |
Jr. |
Finance |
Bulgaria |
| Alexandros Stavropoulos |
UT Dallas |
Fr. |
Undecided |
Patras, Greece |
| Grayson Williams |
UT Tyler |
So. |
Management |
Moody, Texas |
| Austin Ponder |
UT Tyler |
Sr. |
Professional Accountancy |
Lufkin, Texas |
| Tommaso Toppi |
West Texas A&M |
Gr. |
Communications |
Passo Corese, Italy |
| Vivien Delin |
West Texas A&M |
So. |
Business Admin. |
Gilly Les Citeaux, France |
| Cameron Shorty |
Western New Mexico |
Sr. |
Math/Mechanical Engineering |
Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Samuel Ketcham |
Western New Mexico |
Sr. |
Accounting |
Goodyear, Ariz. |