New Braunfels, TX – East Texas Baptist has been picked to finish first in the 2026 American Southwest Conference Women's Cross Country Poll, following a vote by conference head coaches and sports information directors.

The Tigers received eight first-place votes after winning the conference championship last season. Five of the eight student-athletes named to the Runners to Watch List were also named to 2025 All-Conference teams.

Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hardin-Simmons finished within five points of each other at the 2025 championship and were picked second and third, respectively, in this year's poll.

McMurry's Hailee Garner and Schreiner's Amaya Diaz-Gonzales and Mckenna Emerson were among those selected to the Runners to Watch List.

The 2026 ASC Championship will be hosted in Kerrville, Texas, on Saturday, October 31.
 
2026 Preseason Poll
1. East Texas Baptist, 46 (8)
2. Mary Hardin-Baylor, 37 (1)
3. Hardin-Simmons, 24
4. McMurry, 23 (1)
5. Schreiner, 20
 
2026 Runners to Watch
Name                                     Class                     School
Amiya Crosslin *                     Sr.                          Mary Hardin-Baylor
Amaya Diaz-Gonzales           So.                         Schreiner
Mckenna Emerson                 Jr.                           Schreiner
Hope Fuentes *                      Sr.                          Hardin-Simmons
Hailee Garmer                       Jr.                           McMurry
Drea Gibson *                        Jr.                           Mary Hardin-Baylor
Sadie Loftis                            Fr.                          East Texas Baptist
Danna Requena *                  Sr.                          East Texas Baptist
Ruthie Valdez *                      So.                         Hardin-Simmons

2025 All-Conference *