RICHARDSON, Texas – The Lone Star Conference announced its 2023 Cross Country Preseason polls this week, as voted on by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.
Dallas Baptist was picked to defend its women’s title, while West Texas A&M was chosen to repeat on the men’s side. 47 athletes were named as Runners to Watch.
UAFS was tabbed 10th in the women’s poll with 196 points and ninth in the men’s poll with 134 points. Runners to watch include Joyce Ferguson, Jennifer Martinez, Corey Maxwell and Isaac Teague.
The top five of the women’s poll included DBU (460 points), West Texas A&M (450), Oklahoma Christian (375), St. Edward’s (367) and Midwestern State (366). DBU received 21 first-place votes while WT had nine and Oklahoma Christian one.
In the men’s poll, the top five consisted of West Texas A&M (363), DBU (343), Western New Mexico (309), St. Edward’s (301) and Oklahoma Christian (252). WT totaled 27 first-place votes while DBU had two.
Ferguson placed 95th in the LSC Championships and 153rd in the South Central Regional a year ago and has a best 5k time of 19:50.8.
Martinez, one of three seniors of the roster, ran career bests in both the 5k and 6k last season. She placed 85th in the LSC Championships with a 6k time of 26:07.3 and posted a 5k time of 20:15.2 at the UAH DII Festival Showcase.
Maxwell returns for a fifth season to compete for the Lions, coming off a career-best year in 2022. He ran his best 8k with a time of 27:20.2 at the UAFS DII Festival Showcase and finished 93rd and 156th, respectively, at the LSC Championships and South Central Regional.
Teague ran an 8k best of 28:54.3 last year at UAH and placed 85th at the LSC Championships and 158th at the South Central Regional.
UAFS is once again set to start off the season with the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic September 2.
2023 LSC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team (1st pl. votes) | Points |
| 1 | Dallas Baptist (21) | 460 |
| 2 | West Texas A&M (9) | 450 |
| 3 | Oklahoma Christian (1) | 375 |
| 4 | St. Edward’s | 367 |
| 5 | Midwestern State | 366 |
| 6 | Cameron | 269 |
| 7 | Texas A&M International | 263 |
| 8 | Lubbock Christian | 243 |
| 9 | Western New Mexico | 204 |
| 10 | UAFS | 196 |
| 11 | Angelo State | 151 |
| 12 | UT Tyler | 146 |
| 13 | Eastern New Mexico | 97 |
| 14 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 81 |
| 15 | UT Permian Basin | 43 |
2023 LSC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team (1st pl. votes) | Points |
| 1 | West Texas A&M (27) | 363 |
| 2 | Dallas Baptist (2) | 343 |
| 3 | Western New Mexico | 309 |
| 4 | St. Edward’s | 301 |
| 5 | Oklahoma Christian | 252 |
| 6 | UT Tyler | 245 |
| 7 | Texas A&M International | 193 |
| 8 | Cameron | 155 |
| 9 | UAFS | 134 |
| 10 | Lubbock Christian | 130 |
| 11 | Angelo State | 91 |
| 12 | Eastern New Mexico | 60 |
| 13 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 57 |
