The Emporia State teams were picked in the bottom half of the 2026 MIAA Cross Country Preseason Polls released on Friday. Pittsburg State was picked to win both the men’s and women’s title. The Hornets were slotted 10th in the men’s poll while the Lady Hornets were picked eighth. ESU starts the season on Saturday, September 5 with a trip to Wichita and the JK Gold Classic.
2026 MIAA WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [7] – 138 points
2. Rogers State [3] – 128 points
3. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 116 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 107 points
5. Northwest Missouri – 103 points
6. Fort Hays State – 91 points
7. Washburn [1] – 86 points
8. Emporia State – 56 points
9. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 52 points
10. Central Missouri – 49 points
11. Missouri Western – 44 points
T12. Central Oklahoma – 22 points
T12. Newman – 22 points
[#] – First Place Votes
2026 MIAA MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [5] – 114 points
2. Washburn [3] – 108 points
T3. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 90 points
T3. Missouri Southern – 90 points
5. Northwest Missouri [3] – 84 points
6. Fort Hays State – 73 points
7. Rogers State – 60 points
8. Missouri Western – 54 points
9. Central Missouri – 45 points
10. Emporia State – 40 points
11. Newman – 19 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 15 points
[#] – First Place Votes
