CLINTON, Miss. — The Mississippi Christian University women's cross country team will enter the 2026 season ranked No. 3 in the South Region in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason regional rankings, released Tuesday.

The Choctaws are projected third in the South Region behind No. 1 Lee and No. 2 Tampa. The preseason rankings are determined by a regional representative who evaluates returning talent and current-season results when available.

Mississippi Christian enters the season with high expectations after being picked second in the 2026 Gulf South Conference preseason coaches poll. The Choctaws received three first-place votes and finished with 91 points, trailing only Lee's 98 points.

The Choctaws return a strong group heading into the season, led by junior Kinley Harris and sophomores Audrey Mayatte and Catherine Wallace, who were each named Runners to Watch in the GSC preseason outlook.

Mississippi Christian will begin its season at home Saturday with the Mississippi Christian Season Opener at Choctaw Trail in Clinton. The women's race is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The season opener will give the Choctaws their first opportunity to test their returning core and establish an early benchmark for a team that enters the year with postseason expectations.

The South Region rankings list Mississippi Christian as one of three projected NCAA Division II automatic qualifiers from the region, with Lee and Tampa joining the Choctaws in the top three. USTFCCCA noted that Mississippi Christian returns a healthy portion of its roster and will be looking to make its move toward the top of the region.

The Choctaws' road to the NCAA postseason will continue through the Gulf South Conference and South Region Championships later this fall.

For complete Mississippi Christian cross country coverage, visit GoChoctaws.com.