NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Bethany College men's and women's cross country teams have been picked to finish eleventh and twelfth in the 2026 Presidents' Athletic Conference Pre-Championships Coaches Poll, respectively.
The women's team was picked twelfth in the second consecutive season, this time with 12 points as Grove City (Pa.) College was picked to win the PAC Championship with 126 points and 11 first-place votes. Saint Vincent (Pa.) College and the Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) each received a first-place vote and follow the Wolverines at second and third place with 112 points and 99 points, respectively. Allegheny (Pa.) College and Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College sit tied at fourth with 96 points each to round out the top five.
On the men's side, the Bison were picked eleventh once again with 21 points: one more point than Bethany received last season. The defending conference champion Geneva (Pa.) College was picked fourth with 113 points and eight first-place votes while Grove City follows close behind at second with three first-place votes and 106 points. W&J was predicted third with 97 points and the final first-place vote followed by Saint Vincent with 86 points and Franciscan with 85 points.
Academic All-PAC senior
Mary Tracey (Clarksburg, W.Va./Liberty) and freshman
William Greenwood (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) were named to the PAC Runners to Watch list ahead of the 2026 conference championships.
Danielle Finlan enters her first year as head coach of the Bison and returns one Academic All-PAC selection from last year's squad that competed individually at last year's PAC Championships.
2026 PAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Championships Poll
School - Points (First Place Votes)
1. Grove City - 126 (11)
2. Saint Vincent - 112 (1)
3. Franciscan - 99 (1)
T-4. Allegheny - 96
T-4. Washington & Jefferson - 96
6. Geneva - 94
7. Waynesburg - 65
8. Hiram - 50
9. Westminster - 42
10. Chatham - 39
11. Thiel - 28
12. Bethany - 12
Saint Francis - Ineligible for PAC Championship as school transitions from Division I
2026 PAC Men's Cross Country Pre-Championships Poll
School - Points (First Place Votes)
1. Geneva - 113 (8)
2. Grove City - 106 (3)
3. Washington & Jefferson - 97 (1)
4. Saint Vincent - 86
5. Franciscan - 85
6. Allegheny - 79
7. Waynesburg - 59
8. Westminster - 52
9. Hiram - 46
10. Thiel - 37
11. Bethany - 21
Saint Francis - Ineligible for PAC Championship as school transitions from Division I
The Bison are back in action on Saturday, October 31 as they travel to Canfield, Ohio to compete at the 2026 Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships at 11 a.m. at the Gorby Family Championship Cross Country Course at MetroParks Farm.
