MONTGOMERY, Ala. – William Carey was a unanimous choice at No. 1 in the 2026 Southern States Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll. 
 
The Crusaders grabbed all 12 first-place votes, with UT Southern and Blue Mountain Christian sitting in the second and third spots in the rankings. 
 
2026 SSAC Women’s Cross Country Championship
The 2026 SSAC Women’s Cross Country Championship will take place Friday, Nov. 6 at Choctaw Trails in Jackson, Miss. The course has hosted six previous SSAC championships, with the last coming in 2017. 
 
2026 SSAC Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll
1. William Carey - 144 (12)
2. UT Southern - 130
3. Blue Mountain - 116
4. Dalton State - 111
5. Mobile - 95
6. Loyola - 88
7. Faulkner - 69
8. Brewton-Parker - 51
9. Xavier - 43
10. Abraham Baldwin - 34
11. Andrew - 28
12. Thomas - 27