ROCK HILL, S.C. – Wingate was voted the preseason favorite in the 2026 SAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the league today.
The Bulldogs garnered 11 of the 12 first-place votes and topped the poll with 121 points.
Catawba earned the remaining first-place vote and finished second in the poll with 109 points.
Anderson came in third with 103 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial in fourth with 97 points.
Lenoir-Rhyne was fifth with 76 points, while Carson-Newman came in sixth with 73 points.
Mars Hill earned seventh place with 62 points, followed by Emory & Henry in eighth with 50 points.
UVA Wise, Tusculum, Newberry and Coker rounded out the 12-team poll.
In addition to the coaches’ poll, each program highlighted two runners to watch.
2026 SAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll
- Wingate (11) — 121
- Catawba (1) — 109
- Anderson — 103
- Lincoln Memorial — 97
- Lenoir-Rhyne — 76
- Carson-Newman — 73
- Mars Hill — 62
- Emory & Henry — 50
- UVA Wise — 39
- Tusculum — 31
- Newberry — 20
- Coker — 11
Runners to Watch
Anderson
Kennedy Roush, Beth Ludwick
Carson-Newman
Jenna Pittman, Keirieonna Wilson
Catawba
Hannah Caudill, Morgan Pollard
Coker
Amelia Artz, Claire Lowrimore
Emory & Henry
Tess Somervell, McKenzie Tate
Lenoir-Rhyne
Saoirse McNulty, Zoila Sicilia
Lincoln Memorial
Jacie Begley, Weslyn McIntosh
Mars Hill
Sophie Ratcliff, Lola Korth
Newberry
Olivia Hare, Alexis Fonseca
Tusculum
Jesica Mbhamali, Hannah McLain
UVA Wise
Alexsis Porter, Shaylen Cannon
Wingate
Abi Bester, Kiara Bester