Cross Country Tabbed Third in SEC Preseason Poll
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Aug. 26, 2026) – South Carolina Cross Country has been tabbed to finish third overall in the SEC Preseason Poll as announced by the league office on Wednesday morning.
The Gamecocks are coming off the best season in program history in which they posted a third-place finish at the SEC Championship, turned in a runner-up result at the NCAA Southeast Regional and earned the program’s first ever team bid into the NCAA Cross Country Championship. In addition, all four Gamecocks that earned a spot on the All-District Team are back for the 2026 campaign. Salma Elbadra headlines the returners as she also landed on the All-American squad after placing 28th individually at the NCAA Championship.
Alabama earned nine first place votes in the women’s poll, followed by Florida with six and South Carolina with one. The top five teams in the women’s poll were Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri.
Points for the women’s poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15 basis. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
South Carolina will open its season in Spartanburg, S.C. at the Eye Opener hosted by USC Upstate on Friday, Sept. 4.
