RICHARDSON, Texas (August 25, 2026) - The 2026 Lone Star Conference cross country preseason polls were announced on Tuesday, with the men picked to finish sixth and the women picked to finish eighth.
The preseason polls are voted on by LSC head coaches and sports information directors, while the runners to watch are nominated by their member institution.
It is a new era for the school's cross country program, as
Nicholas Rivera took over as head coach over the summer. Most recently, he was at Artesia High School for four years, where he captured seven district titles. His own collegiate career was at Texas Tech, where he was a two-time Big 12 Champion in the 800-meter.
The Chaparrals were picked to finish sixth in the 2026 LSC Preseason Poll, which is exactly where they finished in last season's league meet - their highest finish since 2019. They drew 233 points in the poll.
Seniors Matthew Gordon and Alfons Rawall were picked as Runners to Watch on the men's side. Rawall was the team's top finisher at last year's conference championships, setting an 8K personal best and placing 23
rd individually.
The Lady Chaps were picked to finish eighth in the LSC Preseason Poll, drawing 265 points. It is also the exact spot they finished in 2025.
Two sophomores were LCU's runners to watch, including
Lily Rodriguez, who returns to the team after a strong freshman campaign, and Resse Pena, who is a Lubbock native but spent her freshman season at Air Force.
The 2026 Cross Country season kicks off on Sept. 4 and features three chances to see LCU run in Lubbock, including the Lone Star Conference and NCAA South Central Regional Championships.
