The Lone Star Conference has released the Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll, ranking DBU as the third-best team in the conference with 444 points. The poll, voted on by the conference's head coaches, sports information directors, and media representatives, ranked all 16 LSC members. 
 

West Texas A&M, winner of the last three LSC Championships, claimed the top spot with 510 points and 30 of the 32 available first-place votes. DBU and Midwestern State each received one first-place vote.  Though not receiving a first-place vote, UT-Tyler finished second overall in the poll, one point ahead of DBU.  All three programs are primed for improved seasons and will be vying with the Buffs for conference glory. 
 

While WT is widely regarded as the conference's premier program, DBU won three consecutive conference championships before the Buffs began their current streak. The Patriots will have high aspirations of reclaiming the conference title and will look to find that success behind Lesli Salas and Courtney Hobbs, both of whom were highlighted on the LSC's "Runners to Watch" list. 
 

Salas did not compete during the 2025 cross country season after being sidelined by injury but returned to prominence during the indoor track season, qualifying for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 5000m. Hobbs finished 25th at last year's LSC Championship and is coming off a strong outdoor track season in which she set personal records in the mile, 3000m, and 5000m. 
 

Returning from last year's conference squad are Anastasia Tronicek, Kirra Phillips, and Kylie Himes, who finished 29th, 30th, and 35th, respectively, at the 2025 LSC Championships. 
 

In addition to those five returners, DBU will look for contributions from a talented freshman class of 12 athletes. 
 

DBU last won an LSC Championship in 2022 and has not qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships as a team since 2023. The Patriots will look to accomplish both goals this season. 
 

The 2026 season will begin for DBU on Friday, September 11, at the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational in Arlington.

Preseason Poll

Rank    Team                                  1st            Pts.

1          West Texas A&M                 30             510

2          UT Tyler                                                  445

3          DBU                                        1               444

4          Midwestern State                1               428

5          Oklahoma Christian                              379

6          Cameron                                                 325

7          St. Edward's                                           303

8          Lubbock Christian                                 265

9          Texas A&M International                      249

10        Western New Mexico                           245

11        Texas A&M-Kingsville                           201

12        UT Dallas                                               176

13        Eastern New Mexico                            138

14        Angelo State                                         132

15        UT Permian Basin                                 78

16        Sul Ross State                                       35