The Shadow
NEW ORLEANS – James Madison cross country was predicted to finish seventh in the Sun Belt Conference in a vote by the league’s 13 coaches, as announced by the conference on Friday afternoon. App State was picked to defend its 2024 title, receiving 10 first-place votes for 165 points. Arkansas State came in second with 147 points and two first-place votes, followed by Marshall (139), Texas State (120) and Louisiana (113). JMU earned 94 points, just 13 behind sixth-place Coastal Carolina (107). Southern Miss notched the final first-place vote, sitting in eighth with 87 points. The Dukes placed seventh at last year’s conference championship, tallying 136 points with Katherine Lawsonposting a runner-up finish in the 5K race. JMU returns three scorers from last year’s meet in Sarah Cestare, Madison Cole and Kristin Giordano, and five out of the seven that competed at the 2024 title race.
James Madison will open the 2025 season at Richmond’s Spider Alumni Open on Saturday, Aug. 30. The Sun Belt Cross Country Championship will take place in Foley, Ala. at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve on Oct. 31 and will stream on ESPN+.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. App State (10) – 165
2. Arkansas State (2) – 147
3.. Marshall – 139
4. Texas State – 120
5. Louisiana – 113
6. Coastal Carolina – 107
7. James Madison – 94
8. Southern Miss (1) – 87
9. South Alabama – 68
10. Troy – 50
11. ULM – 43
12. Georgia Southern – 35
13. Georgia State – 15
