CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi Christian men's cross country enters the 2026 season ranked among the top three teams in the Gulf South Conference, with the Choctaws picked third in the GSC preseason coaches poll released Tuesday.
Mississippi Christian received 63 points in the preseason poll, finishing behind Lee and Alabama Huntsville. Lee was selected as the preseason favorite with nine first-place votes and 81 points, while UAH received one first-place vote and finished second with 72 points.
AUM was fourth with 59 points, followed by Union with 44.
Two Choctaws Named Runners to Watch
Two Mississippi Christian runners were named to the conference's 2026 Men's Cross Country Runners to Watch list: seniors Matthew Singletary and Baxter Friedman.
Singletary enters the season after earning All-Region honors at the NCAA South Regional, where he finished 25th. He owns an 8K personal best of 25:00 and a 14:48 5K personal best on the track. Singletary also finished fifth in the GSC outdoor steeplechase last season.
Friedman earned Second Team All-GSC honors in cross country after finishing 17th at the GSC Championships. He placed 30th at the NCAA South Regional and owns a 24:38 8K personal best. During the outdoor track and field season, Friedman finished sixth in both the GSC steeplechase and 1,500 meters.
The two returning seniors give Mississippi Christian a veteran foundation as the Choctaws enter the season picked third in the conference.
2026 GSC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
- Lee (9) — 81 points
- UAH (1) — 72
- Mississippi Christian — 63
- AUM — 59
- Union — 44
- Montevallo — 34
- Christian Brothers — 33
- West Alabama — 32
- Trevecca Nazarene — 20
- Valdosta State — 12
The Choctaws begin the 2026 season looking to build on last year's performances and compete among the GSC's top teams.
