PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Little East Conference (LEC) released the 2026 preseason poll for women's cross country with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth selected to finished tied for third overall out of nine teams.
The Corsairs picked up 45 total points, while Plymouth State was selected to finish atop the conference with 63 points and seven first-place votes. Keene State was selected second overall, amassing 58 points and two first-place votes.
UMass Dartmouth competed in eight total meets during the 2025 campaign, finishing 13th or better in five of the eight competitions. The Corsairs opened the year with a ninth-place finish at the Suffolk Short Course Invitational, before taking sixth the next week at the Trinity College Invite. The Corsairs went on to place third overall at the Little East Championships, backed by All-LEC Team performances from
Sarah Lynch (First Team) and
Sophie Owen (Second Team).
Head coach
Ryan O'Connell, entering his fourth season at the helm, sees 12 returners from last season's squad including captains Lynch, Owen,
Serena Carnes and
Lylah Thibeault. Joining the roster this season are nine newcomers.
At the end of the 2025 campaign, the women's team garnered USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recognition. Six Corsairs also earned LEC All-Academic honors, including returners Carnes,
Liv DeSimone, Lynch and Thibeault.
UMass Dartmouth kicks-off the new campaign on Saturday, September 5 at the Suffolk Short Course Classic, hosted in Attleboro, Mass. The women's race gets underway at 10am, followed by the men's race at 10:45am.
