PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE 

No. 25 DBU claimed third place at the DBU Old Glory Gallop. Lesli Salas led the way, finishing sixth overall in 17:07.51. The Patriots placed all five scoring runners in the top 30, with each breaking 18:00 in the 5K. 
 

- DBU struggled at the 2025 LSC Championships, finishing fourth and tying the lowest conference finish in program history (2019, fourth place). 

- The Patriots have claimed two LSC titles since joining the conference in 2019 (2021, 2022). 

- The LSC preseason poll ranked DBU third, behind UT Tyler and No. 8 West Texas A&M. 

- At the Old Glory Gallop, the Patriots finished second among Lone Star Conference programs, trailing only the Buffs. 
 

As the calendar flips to November and the clocks turn back an hour, the cross country season approaches its pinnacle.  The blistering heat of early September has faded into the rearview mirror, giving way to colder conditions and competitions carrying greater consequences. With a bid to the national championships hanging in the balance, the Patriots are primed for the Lone Star Conference Championships. 
 

Though DBU has demonstrated throughout the regular season that it has the talent and depth to outperform its preseason ranking, the Patriots must prove it on the course. Senior Lesli Salas will be central to that effort. The outstanding national qualifier has led DBU in every race she has started this season, and her presence at the front of the field will be key to keeping the Patriots' team score low. 
 

Behind Salas, DBU boasts a wealth of depth, including upperclassmen Courtney Hobbs, Kylie Himes, Anastasia Tronicek, Makayla Stephens, and Kirra Phillips. Freshmen Montse Guerra, Emma Bielkiewicz, Brooklyn Dotts, and Melia Flowers are also capable scorers who could bolster the Patriots' presence throughout the field. 
 

The Patriots' projected lineup has yet to compete in a 6K this season, the women's distance for the postseason. While the additional kilometer could present a challenge for the freshman class, their training throughout the season has prepared them for the increased distance. 
 

Last year's fourth-place finish snapped a five-year streak of podium finishes. Returning to the podium with a second-place finish or better would provide a significant boost heading into the South Central Regional Championships. With West Texas A&M expected to lead the field, DBU will also need to limit the damage against other conference contenders to strengthen its case for an at-large berth to the national championships. 
 

DBU has its sights set on an LSC championship, but the path to the title will be challenging. Unseating No. 8 West Texas A&M would be an impressive feat. The Buffs have won three consecutive LSC championships and recorded top-10 finishes at the national championships in each of the past three seasons. At the Old Glory Gallop, West Texas A&M claimed the team title with 80 points despite missing one of its top-five runners, placing three runners ahead of Salas. The Buffs possess elite talent capable of crowding the front of the field once again. 
 

Although UT Tyler entered the season ranked ahead of DBU, the Patriots have held the upper hand in both head-to-head meetings this fall. DBU finished ahead of the Patriots' conference rival at both the Chile Pepper Festival and the Old Glory Gallop. Midwestern State, ranked fourth in the preseason poll, also outperformed UT Tyler at the Old Glory Gallop but finished more than 100 points behind DBU. Both programs will look to close the gap at the conference championships, but the Patriots have established themselves as the stronger challenger to West Texas A&M.