FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Concord University women's cross country team has been slotted ninth in the Mountain East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released Wednesday afternoon.
THE POLL
| Place |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Davis & Elkins (7) |
104 |
| 2. |
Charleston (4) |
101 |
| 3. |
Point Park |
92 |
| 4. |
Glenville State |
82 |
| 5. |
Frostburg State |
64 |
| 6. |
West Virginia Wesleyan |
62 |
| 7. |
Shawnee State |
57 |
| 8. |
West Liberty |
53 |
| 9. |
Concord |
48 |
| 10. |
Fairmont State |
32 |
| 11. |
Wheeling |
20 |
2025 REVIEW
Concord finished seventh at the Mountain East Conference Championship last October as it seeks to build upon the success under second-year head
Jonathan Kigel. Sophomore
Violet Wall was named the MEC Freshman of the Year along with earning a spot on the All-MEC First Team. During the regular season, CU won its home invitational at Pipestem State Park. The top eight finishers at Pipestem were in the Maroon and Gray. The Mountain Lions were third at the Catawba Fleet Feet Invite to begin the year.
2026 SCHEDULE
CU's first meet of 2026 will be at the Virginia Tech Invite September 4. Concord returns to the Southern Showcase for a second straight year September 18 in Huntsville, Alabama. The Atlantic Region Preview is set for September 25 in Kernersville, North Carolina. And Concord opens October at the Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh University October 2, before hosting the Concord Invite October 16. The MEC Championship is slated for November 7. The Division II Atlantic Regional Championship will be back in Kernersville November 21.
THE RETURNERS
Wall headlines nine returners for the Mountain Lions this fall. Freshman
Avery Lilly and senior
Sara Turner were routinely in Concord's top five in 2025 while fellow seniors Pipeer Doughton,
Abbey Londeree and
Piper Doughton provide experience to the CU lineup. Turner was Concord's second runner across the finish line at the MEC Championship last year, and Lilly joined Turner inside the top 40.
THE NEWCOMERS
Just two new faces were added to the program ahead of the 2026 season in the freshmen pair of
Maddie Lilly (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia/Greenbrier East) and
Gracie Tooze (Greenville, West Virginia/James Monroe)
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