By: Ace Hunt
SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's and women's cross country teams were each picked to finish fifth in the 2026 River States Conference Preseason Coaches' Polls as the Pomeroys prepare for a six-meet regular-season schedule highlighted by hosting the RSC Championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
The SMWC women received 38 points in the preseason voting, finishing just one point behind fourth-place Midway.
Rio Grande was selected as the preseason favorite on the women's side with 63 points and seven first-place votes. IU East followed with 58 points and two first-place votes, while IU Kokomo was third with 50 points. Midway received 39 points to take fourth.
Brescia and IU Columbus tied for sixth with 26 points apiece, followed by WVU Tech with 15 and Kentucky Christian with eight.
On the men's side, SMWC collected 29 points to earn the No. 5 position in the preseason rankings.
Rio Grande also topped the men's poll with 62 points and six first-place votes. IU East was second with 58 points and three first-place votes, followed by IU Kokomo with 51 points and Midway with 41.
SMWC finished one point ahead of sixth-place IU Columbus, which received 28 points. Brescia was seventh with 25 points, WVU Tech was eighth with 22 and Kentucky Christian rounded out the poll with eight.
The Pomeroys open the 2026 season Sept. 5 at the Franklin Grizzly Invitational at Blue River Park in Shelbyville, Ind.
SMWC then makes the first of several trips to the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course on Sept. 19 for the John McNichols Invitational. The Pomeroys return to the nationally recognized Terre Haute-area course Oct. 2 for the Nike XC Town Twilight Meet.
The schedule continues Oct. 16 at the Greenville Classic in Hillsboro, Illinois, before SMWC travels to St. Louis for the Makayla Sherrill Fall Classic on Oct. 24.
The season's marquee event comes Nov. 7 when SMWC hosts the
River States Conference Championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. It will give the Pomeroys the opportunity to compete for conference titles on a course they will have already raced twice during the regular season.
2026 RSC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Rio Grande — 62 points (6 first-place votes)
- IU East — 58 points (3)
- IU Kokomo — 51 points
- Midway — 41 points
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods — 29 points
- IU Columbus — 28 points
- Brescia — 25 points
- WVU Tech — 22 points
- Kentucky Christian — 8 points
2026 RSC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Rio Grande — 63 points (7 first-place votes)
- IU East — 58 points (2)
- IU Kokomo — 50 points
- Midway — 39 points
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods — 38 points
T6. Brescia — 26 points
T6. IU Columbus — 26 points
- WVU Tech — 15 points
- Kentucky Christian — 8 points
