Alabama Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Programs Favored to Win SEC in Preseason Coaches’ Poll
8/26/2026 10:02:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The men received 12 first-place votes while the women totaled nine first-place votes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama's men's and women's cross country teams were both predicted to win the 2026 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, the league announced Wednesday.
The Crimson Tide boasted 12 first-place votes in the men's poll, while the Alabama women received nine first-place votes, with the two vote totals standing as top marks within respective genders. Points for the men's poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13 basis, while 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.
Alabama will begin the 2026 campaign at the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic in Memphis, Tenn. before the 2026 SEC Cross Country Championships are slated to take place Friday, Oct. 30 in Columbia, Mo.
Notes
- The Alabama men's cross country team will be aiming to defend its 2025 SEC title while the women will look to secure their first league crown since 2024
- The women's group has finished no lower than fifth at the SEC Championships each season since 2019, including two conference titles in that span (2022, 2024)
- The men's side most recently claimed its fifth-ever conference championship in 2025 and has closed no worse than fourth at the SEC Championships each season since 2021
- The women return All-Conference performers such as Cynthia Jemutai and Caren Kiplagat, while the men will again deploy All-SEC racers Dennis Kipruto, Dismus Lokira, Nelson Pariken and Ezekiel Pitireng
