Cross Country

Maine Picked First in 2026 Women’s #AEXC Preseason Poll

BOSTON – Following the program’s first-ever conference championship, Maine was selected first in the 2026 America East Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll, as announced by the league on Wednesday.
 
In 2025 Maine captured the program’s first-ever conference title, edging out second-place Bryant 51-49 in Hopkinton, N.H. The Black Bears finished with 63 points and seven first place votes.
 
Binghamton was selected second in the poll with 53 points and has finished in the top three at the conference championship each of the past four seasons, including the a victory in 2022. Bryant earned one first place vote and 42 points overall, while UMass Lowell had 41 points and Vermont captured the final first place vote and had 38 points.
 
2026 Women’s #AEXC Preseason Poll
School Pts (1st)
1. Maine 63 (7)
2. Binghamton 53
3. Bryant 42 (1)
4. UMass Lowell 41
5. Vermont 38 (1)
6. New Hampshire 30
7. UMBC 26
8. NJIT 20
9. UAlbany 11
 
The 2026 season begins on Friday, Sept. 4 with Bryant, UMBC, Maine and NJIT all in action, highlighted by a home meet for the Black Bears. On Sept. 5, UAlbany, Binghamton, New Hampshire, UMass Lowell and Vermont all compete.
 
This year’s cross country championship will take place on Friday, October 30 on the campus of UAlbany in Albany, N.Y. The championship will be broadcast live once again in 2026.
 
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast. 
 
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -