Wingate Selected as Women’s Cross Country Preseason Favorite

ROCK HILL, S.C. (theSAC.com) – Wingate has been voted the favorite to win the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Women's Cross Country title, the league office announced today.

The Bulldogs, who claimed the 2024 SAC Championship and made another strong showing at the NCAA Division II level, earned 11 first-place votes and 110 points in the preseason poll.

Catawba picked up the remaining first-place vote and totaled 98 points to finish second in the poll. Lincoln Memorial and Anderson tied for third with 86 points each, while Lenoir-Rhyne claimed the No. 5 spot with 67 points.

Carson-Newman followed in sixth with 58 points, trailed by Emory & Henry in seventh with 47 points and Mars Hill in eighth with 44 points. UVA Wise checked in at No. 9 with 30 points, while Tusculum (18 points) and Newberry (16 points) ranked 10th and 11th, respectively. Coker rounded out the poll in 12th place with 12 points.

In addition to the preseason coaches' poll, the SAC also released its 2025 Cross Country Runners to Watch list. Below is the full list of runners to watch by team for the upcoming season.

The 2025 SAC Cross Country Championships will take place Saturday, October 25, in Greeneville, Tenn.

2025 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll

Rank – School (First Place Votes) – Points

1. Wingate (11) – 110

2. Catawba (1) – 98

T-3. Lincoln Memorial – 86

T-3. Anderson – 86

5. Lenoir-Rhyne – 67

6. Carson-Newman – 58

7. Emory & Henry – 47

8. Mars Hill – 44

9. UVA Wise – 30

10. Tusculum – 18

11. Newberry – 16

12. Coker – 12

2025 SAC Women's Cross Country Runners to Watch

Anderson

• Kennedy Roush
• Emma Whitaker
• Natalie States

Carson-Newman

• Jenna Pittman
• Emma Roberts
• Peyton Couch

Catawba

• Madi Clay
• Hannah Caudill

Coker

• Amelia Artz
• Aleeya Moes

Emory & Henry

• Elise McKinney
• Madison Fiscus
• McKenzie Tate

Lincoln Memorial 

• Jacie Begley
• Reaghan Curde
• Natalia Iker

Lenoir-Rhyne 

• Regly Jemutai
• Maria Carmona
• Caitlyn Christie

Mars Hill 

• Sophie Ratcliff
• Grace Adams
• Mary Malcolm
• Natalee Powers

Newberry 

• Kwamia Russell
• Olivia Hare

Tusculum 

• Abby Counter
• Jesica Mbhamali
• Hannah McLain

UVA Wise 

• Alexsis Porter
• Lydia Slemp
• Destyne Rutherford

Wingate 

• Sira Bo
• Evie Brooks
• Ona Alonso
• Firdaouss Hriche