The Shadow
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The two-time defending CUSA champion Liberty women’s cross country team is favored to top the conference once again in 2026, according to the CUSA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country preseason polls announced on Thursday. Meanwhile, the men’s squad was picked second behind Middle Tennessee by the conference’s head coaches.
After capturing the 2025 CUSA title by 64 points, the Lady Flames received eight of 10 first-place votes and 80 total points to finish a clear first in the preseason listing. Kennesaw State and Missouri State shared second place with 60 points apiece. There was also a tie for the fourth spot at 54 points, consisting of 2025 CUSA runner-up New Mexico State and Middle Tennessee, which garnered the two remaining first-place nods.
Defending CUSA individual champion and All-American Allie Zealand headlines the Lady Flames’ five returning All-CUSA performers from 2025. The list also includes Rachel Hill (14th place), Ryann Aycock (16th), Kate Loescher (18th) and Mackenzie Babcock (21st). Coach Heather Zealand‘s roster features 2024 All-CUSA members Ava Gordon (ninth place) and Molly Lashley (13th) as well.
The Lady Flames will attempt to capture a third consecutive conference title for the first time since winning five straight Mason-Dixon Conference crowns between 1985 and 1989. The last CUSA women’s cross country squad to do so was Middle Tennessee, from 2019 to 2021.
After capturing its first CUSA championship in 2024, the Liberty men’s cross country team came in second to Middle Tennessee a year ago. It marked the Flames 23rd consecutive top-two conference finish spanning three leagues (Big South, ASUN and CUSA).
Middle Tennessee is favored to successfully defend its crown, collecting seven of the eight first-place votes and 49 points. Liberty, which earned the final first-place nod, garnered 42 points. Jacksonville State came in third out of eight men’s squads at 37 points.
Coach Isaac Wendland‘s team brings back four of its five All-CUSA runners from a year ago, including Andrew Schultz (sixth place), Edwin Kiprop (10th), Ethan Pedersen (11th) and Tristian Merchant (21st).
The Flames and Lady Flames will open the 2026 campaign on Sept. 4, heading to the Eye Opener at Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg, S.C., site of the 2026 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships. The Eye Opener will consist of the women’s 5K at 6:30 p.m. and the men’s 8K at 7:10 p.m.
For the second year in a row, the CUSA Cross Country Championships will take place at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. This year’s edition is slated for Oct. 31, including the women’s 6K at 10 a.m. Eastern and the men’s 8K at 11 a.m. Eastern.
2026 CUSA Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1) Liberty (8 first-place votes) – 80 points
2T) Kennesaw State – 60
2T) Missouri State – 60
4T) Middle Tennessee (2) – 54
4T) New Mexico State – 54
6) Delaware – 44
7) Jacksonville State – 40
8) FIU – 26
9) Western Kentucky – 20
10) Sam Houston – 12
2026 CUSA Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1) Middle Tennessee (7 first-place votes) – 49 points
2) Liberty (1) – 42
3) Jacksonville State – 37
4) New Mexico State – 29
5) Kennesaw State – 25
6) Western Kentucky – 21
7) Sam Houston – 14
8) FIU – 7
