Newtown, Pa. (Cross Country) - The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) coaches have released the 2026 cross country pre-championship polls ahead of Saturday's MAC Championships. Lebanon Valley is the pick on the men's side, while Messiah is the favorite on the women's side.
The MAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be held Saturday, Oct. 31, on Stevenson's Greenspring Campus in Owings Mills, Md. Stevenson is hosting the conference championships for the second time, and the first since 2018.
Men's Poll
Lebanon Valley received 16 first-place votes and totaled 287 points to top the men's poll. The Flying Dutchmen are the two-time defending champions, having claimed back-to-back MAC titles in 2024 and 2025, and they are looking for a third straight. Last year Lebanon Valley won with 36 points, led by Rory Lieberman, the 2025 MAC Men's Runner of the Year, who took the individual title in 25:17.0 over the 8K course.
Messiah was picked second with 271 points and two first-place votes, followed by DeSales in third with 251 points. Stevens is fourth at 228 points, and Misericordia rounds out the top five at 208. Messiah was the runner-up a year ago with 51 points.
The full men's order: Lebanon Valley (287 points, 16 first-place votes), Messiah (271, 2), DeSales (251), Stevens (228), Misericordia (208), York (193), Widener (187), Marywood (181), Eastern (175), Arcadia (142), King's (140), Alvernia (122), Stevenson (91), Hood (80), Delaware Valley (72), FDU-Florham (64), Albright (32) and Neumann (30).
Women's Poll
Messiah received 13 first-place votes and totaled 284 points to lead the women's poll. The Falcons placed third at last year's championship with 87 points.
Misericordia was picked second with 275 points and five first-place votes. The Cougars, whose Madison Hedglin won last year's individual title in 22:26.8 over 6K and was named MAC Runner of the Year and Rookie of the Year, finished second a year ago with 55 points, just three behind champion Lebanon Valley. Lebanon Valley is picked third with 240 points, followed by York in fourth at 231 and DeSales in fifth at 220. Lebanon Valley won its first MAC women's title last season.
The full women's order: Messiah (284 points, 13 first-place votes), Misericordia (275, 5), Lebanon Valley (240), York (231), DeSales (220), Stevens (201), Widener (187), Eastern (178), Arcadia (154), Delaware Valley (134), Marywood (131), King's (112), Stevenson (96), FDU-Florham (88), Alvernia (80), Hood (66), Albright (43) and Neumann (34).
Championship Information
The 2026 MAC Cross Country Championships take place Saturday, Oct. 31, at Stevenson's Greenspring Campus in Owings Mills, Md.
- 10:45 a.m. — National Anthem
- 11:00 a.m. — Women's Race (6K)
- 12:00 p.m. — Men's Race (8K)
- 1:15 p.m. (approx.) — Awards Ceremony
Course maps, results and other championship information will be available on the MAC's championship page.
2025 MAC Championship Notes
Lebanon Valley swept the 2025 MAC Cross Country Championships at Delaware Valley University on Nov. 1. The Flying Dutchmen won the men's title with 36 points, ahead of Messiah (51), Misericordia (76), Stevens (140) and DeSales (144). On the women's side, Lebanon Valley claimed its first conference title with 52 points, edging Misericordia (55), with Messiah (87), Stevens (154) and York (165) completing the top five. Lebanon Valley head coach James O'Brien was named Coach of the Year on both the men's and women's sides.