EDISON, NJ (August 25, 2026) – Defending men’s cross country champions, Iona University and defending women’s cross country champions, Quinnipiac University have been selected as favorites in the 2026 Metro Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league’s 13 head coaches.
Picked unanimously for the second consecutive season, the Iona men’s cross country team received all 13 first-place votes to earn 169 points. The Gaels have won 35 straight conference championships, a streak dating back to 1991, and have captured a conference-record 39 men’s titles since the conference’s inception in 1981. At the 2025 conference championship, Iona dominated the field, placing all five scoring runners in the top 10 and 11 runners among the top 15 finishers to earn All-Conference honors. Leading the way for the Gaels was individual champion Matt Rankin, who completed the course in 24:11.8. Rankin was joined atop the podium by silver medalist Baptiste Cartieaux, who finished in 24:12.1, while Bradley Giblin placed third in 24:12.2.
Marist finished second in the men’s poll with 143 points, followed closely by 2025 runner-up Siena University with 141 points. Rider placed fourth with 128 points, while Merrimack rounded out the top five with 105 points.
On the women’s side, Quinnipiac received 167 points and 11 first-place votes to lead the preseason poll. The Bobcats captured the 2025 conference championship with 36 points, claiming their fourth consecutive title and fifth overall championship in program history. Five Quinnipiac runners recorded top-15 finishes at the 2025 championship to earn All-Conference honors. Bronze medalist Sierra Gray led the way for the Bobcats, finishing third in 20:20.2, followed by Rachel St. Germain in fourth place with a time of 20:29.2. Madeleine O'Neill placed seventh in 21:05.6, Zoe Merryman finished ninth in 21:23.3 and Ashley Carillo rounded out Quinnipiac’s All-Conference honorees with a 13th-place finish in 21:27.7.
Iona, the 2025 runner-up, was selected second in the women’s poll with 156 points and two first-place votes. Marist followed in third with 132 points, while Sacred Heart finished fourth with 131 points. Rider rounded out the top five with 107 points.
The complete 2026 Metro Men's and Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Polls can be found below.
| 2026 Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Iona |
169 (13) |
| 2 |
Marist |
143 |
| 3 |
Siena |
141 |
| 4 |
Rider |
128 |
| 5 |
Merrimack |
105 |
| 6 |
Canisius |
102 |
| 7 |
Sacred Heart |
80 |
| T8 |
Quinnipiac |
72 |
| T8 |
Manhattan |
72 |
| 10 |
Fairfield |
70 |
| 11 |
Niagara |
44 |
| 12 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
33 |
| 13 |
Saint Peter’s |
23 |
| 2026 Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Quinnipiac |
167 (11) |
| 2 |
Iona |
156 (2) |
| 3 |
Marist |
132 |
| 4 |
Sacred Heart |
131 |
| 5 |
Rider |
107 |
| 6 |
Merrimack |
104 |
| 7 |
Fairfield |
103 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
64 |
| 9 |
Siena |
63 |
| 10 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
62 |
| 11 |
Niagara |
40 |
| 12 |
Canisius |
39 |
| 13 |
Saint Peter’s |
15 |
The 2026 Metro Cross Country Championships will be held at the Blue Sky Sports Complex in Middletown, NY, for the first time in conference history on Saturday, October 31. Manhattan University will host the championship for a conference-record 32nd time. For all information regarding the 2026 Metro Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, please visit
here.