MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Following the most successful season in program history, the University of Tennessee Southern women's cross country team has been selected second in the 2026 Southern States Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Thursday.
UT Southern earned 130 points in the poll, trailing only defending conference champion William Carey, which received all 12 first-place votes. The Firehawks were one of just four programs to surpass the 100-point mark and finished ahead of third-place Blue Mountain Christian.
The preseason ranking comes after a historic 2025 campaign in which the Firehawks recorded their highest finish ever at the SSAC Women's Cross Country Championships. UT Southern claimed runner-up honors at the conference meet, establishing a new benchmark for the program and cementing its status among the league's top teams.
With more than half of last season's roster returning, the Firehawks enter 2026 carrying significant momentum. The experience gained from last year's breakthrough season has positioned UT Southern as a contender to challenge for the conference championship and qualify for postseason competition.
Head Coach Justin Watson enters his seventh season leading the Firehawks and has guided the program to new heights during his tenure. Under Watson's direction, UT Southern has continued to improve each year, culminating in last season's historic runner-up finish.
The 2026 SSAC Women's Cross Country Championship is scheduled for Nov. 6 at Choctaw Trails in Jackson, Mississippi. The course has hosted six previous SSAC championships and will provide the stage for the Firehawks' pursuit of another record-setting season.
2026 SSAC Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll
- William Carey – 144 points (12 first-place votes)
- UT Southern – 130 points
- Blue Mountain Christian – 116 points
- Dalton State – 111 points
- Mobile – 95 points
- Loyola – 88 points
- Faulkner – 69 points
- Brewton-Parker – 51 points
- Xavier – 43 points
- Abraham Baldwin – 34 points
- Andrew – 28 points
- Thomas – 27 points
UT Southern opens the 2026 season Sept. 4 at the JSU Foothills Invitational in Oxford, Alabama, beginning a campaign that carries high expectations following the program's historic success a year ago.
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