Cross Country men third, women sixth in 2026 SSAC preseason poll

NEW ORLEANS — Loyola University New Orleans was picked to finish third among the men and sixth among the women in the Southern States Athletic Conference 2026 cross country preseason polls of the league's head coaches.
        

The SSAC announced the polls Friday.
        

The Wolf Pack men received 2-of-11 first-place votes and 101 points. Mobile is first with seven first-place votes and 116 points. Tennessee Southern is second with two first-place votes and 104 points.
 

The Wolf Pack women received 88 points. William Carey received all 12 first-place votes 144 points. Tennessee Southern is second with 130 points. 
 

Loyola's returning men from last season include:

• Jace Luckoski, eighth place in the 2025 SSAC meet; he ran 8,000 meters there in 26 minutes, 36.55 seconds.

• Cole Savoy, 11th in the SSAC (26:47.75).

• Jacob Kennedy, 12th in the SSAC (26:49.58).

• Dylan Brown, 14th in the SSAC (26:53.15).

• Aubrey Gibson, 16th in the SSAC (27:01.49).

• Alastair Casler, 24th in the SSAC (27:40.15).

• Adam Merkle, 25th in the SSAC (28:02.79).

• Drake Breland, 29th in the SSAC (28:21.49).

• Elijah Reeves, 43rd in the SSAC (29:25.24).
 

Loyola's returning women from last season include:

• Meera Hijazi, 26th in the SSAC (25:18.51 for 6,000 meters).

• Sophia Freeze, 34th in the SSAC (26:01.16).

• Caitlyn Summers, 37th in the SSAC (26:12.19).

• Sela Myers, 41st in the SSAC (26:53.13).
 

Loyola will open the season Sept. 4 in the Battle for New Orleans at Lake Oaks Park. There will be five meets prior to the SSAC Championship Nov. 6 at Clinton, Miss.
 

In 2025 Loyola's men finished second in the SSAC, and the women finished sixth. This will be Loyola's final SSAC and NAIA season; the athletics department in 2027-28 will transition to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference.
 

SSAC men's cross country 2026 coaches poll

1. Mobile . . . 116 points, seven first-place votes
2. Tennessee Southern . . . 104 points, two first-place votes
3. Loyola . . . 101 points, two first-place votes
4. Blue Mountain Christian . . . 88 points
5. William Carey . . . 76 points
6. Faulkner . . . 74 points
7. Brewton-Parker Christian . . . 52 points
8. Xavier (N.O.) . . . 36 points
9. Thomas (Ga.) . . . 32 points
10. Abraham Baldwin . . . 25 points
11. Andrew . . . 22 points
 

SSAC women's cross country 2026 coaches poll

1. William Carey . . . 144 points, 12 first-place votes
2. Tennessee Southern . . . 130 points
3. Blue Mountain Christian . . . 116 points
4. Dalton State . . . 111 points
5. Mobile . . . 95 points
6. Loyola . . . 88 points
7. Faulkner . . . 69 points
8. Brewton-Parker Christian . . . 51 points
9. Xavier (N.O.) . . . 43 points
10. Abraham Baldwin . . . 34 points
11. Andrew . . . 28 points
12. Thomas (Ga.) . . . 27 points

 

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