RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Southland Conference (SLC) announced the 2026 women's and men's cross country preseason polls Thursday with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's team picked to finish third and the men's team predicted fifth. 
 
Preseason polls were voted on by head coaches and/or sports information directors from each conference institution. Voters submitted a ballot ranking 11 teams in order of predicted finish at the SLC Championships and are not allowed to rank their own team. The SLC Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Oct. 30 in Lake Charles. 
 
Stephen F. Austin was picked to win both the women's and men's titles after sweeping the cross country championships in 2025. SFA received seven first-place votes in the women's poll and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was right behind with five first-place votes. UTRGV was picked third, receiving 98 points, in the women's poll. The Vaqueros were third at the 2025 women's championship and return two of three All-Conference honorees in N Vanee Anchike and Kailey Salazar. 
 
SFA received 11 of 12 first-place votes in the men's poll with the final vote going to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which was predicted second. UIW was selected third. UTRGV and McNeese tied for fifth in the poll with 78 points behind Lamar. The Vaqueros were fifth at the 2025 men's cross country championship. 
 
2026 Southland Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
1. Stephen F. Austin, 117 points (7 first-place votes) 
2. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 115 (5) 
3. UTRGV, 98
4. UIW, 90 
5. McNeese, 75 
6. Lamar, 69 
7. LSU New Orleans, 60 
8. Houston Christian University, 56 
9. Nicholls, 43 
10. East Texas A&M, 37 
11. Southeastern, 17 
12. Northwestern State, 15 
 
2026 Southland Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
1. Stephen F. Austin, 121 points (11) 
2. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 109 (1) 
3. UIW, 102 
4. Lamar, 83 
T5. UTRGV, 78 
T5. McNeese, 78 
7. Houston Christian University, 57 
8. East Texas A&M, 54 
9. LSU New Orleans, 47 
10. Nicholls, 29 
11. Northwestern State, 18 
12. Southeastern, 16 

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