CORBIN, Ky. — The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) published its 2026 Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday morning, and the Montreat College Cavaliers found themselves up near the top of the league's projected standings. According to the release, the Cavs were selected as the conference's preseason runners-up for this fall.
 
In total, Montreat received one first-place vote and 170 total voting points, second-most out of 14 programs. The Cavaliers corralled 21 more points than Reinhardt University and trailed only Milligan University, which captured 12 first-place votes and 181 total voting points as the AAC's preseason favorite.
 
Last season, the Cavs ran to a second-place finish at the AAC Cross Country Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. before ending 19^th at the NAIA Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Fla.
 
The 2026 AAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll was voted on by the head coaches of institutions in the league. Teams received 14 points for a first-place vote, 13 for second place, 12 for third place and so on until all 14 teams were ranked. Programs were then ordered by most points received to least points received.
 
This year's AAC Cross Country Championships return to Sequoyah Park in Knoxville on Friday, Nov. 6. Montreat opens its 2026 season on Friday, Sept. 4 with the Bruins Cross Country Night Classic in Greenville, S.C.
 
AAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
School (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
1. Milligan (12) - 181
2. Montreat (1) - 170
3. Reinhardt - 149
4. Brenau - 141
5. Bryan - 126
6. Columbia - 118
7. Truett McConnell - 99
8. Union Commonwealth - 82
9. Columbia International - 77
10. Tennessee Wesleyan - 60
11. Johnson - 58
12. Spartanburg Methodist - 56
13. Pikeville - 31
14. Bluefield - 17