ARLINGTON, Texas – The United Athletic Conference announced its preseason cross country awards and coaches poll on Thursday. UT Arlington, in its first season under the new conference banner, placed second in both the men's and women's preseason coaches poll.

The Mavericks received one first-place vote in the men's cross country poll and racked up a total of 65 votes. UTA received 66 votes in the women's poll. Both the men's and women's polls were topped by the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, who were unanimously voted into the No. 1 spot.

UTA is coming off a season in which the men's team finished fourth at the Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships while the women finished third. The men's and women's programs each finished 10th at the NCAA South Central Regional. 

Dorcas Jepkosgei returns for her sophomore season after featuring in the NCAA Cross Country Championships as the Mavericks lone representative in 2025. The then-freshman ran the Women's 6k in 20:08.9, good for 136th out of 262 runners.

UTA returns to action with six meets currently on the slate for the 2026 Cross Country season. UTA kicks off the fall with the John McKenzie Invitational hosted by TCU on Friday, Sept. 4 in Fort Worth. 

The Mavericks host the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational one week later on Sept. 11 at the Rolling Hills Soccer Complex in Fort Worth. The UAC Championships are set for Oct. 30 in Richmond, Kentucky.

UAC Preseason Cross Country Awards & Coaches Poll

Preseason Men's Runner of the Year: Taha Er Raouy, EKU
Preseason Women's Runner of the Year: Edna Chelulei, EKU

Men's Preseason Coaches Poll
School         Votes (First Place Votes)
1. EKU*                     80 (8)
2. UT Arlington          65 (1)
3. Central Arkansas    62
4. North Alabama       58
5. Abilene Christian    53
6. Little Rock              45
7. Tarleton State        44
8. West Georgia        34
9. Austin Peay           30

Women's Preseason Coaches Poll
School    Votes (First Place Votes)
1. EKU*                       80 (8)
2. UT Arlington            66
3. Central Arkansas    62
4. Abilene Christian    56 (1)
5. Tarleton State         50
6. North Alabama       47
7. Little Rock              43
8. West Georgia         34
9. Austin Peay            33

* unanimous selection FOLLOW ALONG
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