GREENVILLE, S.C. – Belmont Abbey has been picked seventh in the Conference Carolinas Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll, the league office announced today. Voting was conducted among the 15 head coaches, with each school unable to vote for itself.
The Crusaders received 134 points, just behind Southern Wesleyan for sixth (140 points)
Two-time defending champion North Greenville was picked at the top with 13 first-place votes and 209 points, while Converse was second with the other two first-place votes and 198 points. Lees-McRae, Mount Olive and King rounded out the top five.
Three Crusaders were listed on the league's Runners to Watch list, led by junior
Elizabeth Young, who has earned a spot on the all-conference second team the past two years. Sophomore
Dasha Averkamp and freshman
Gianna Scoville were also included.
The 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Cross Country Championship will take place on Saturday, November 7 at Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg, S.C.
2026 Conference Carolinas
Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
|
School |
Points (1st Place) |
| 1 |
North Greenville |
209 (13) |
| 2 |
Converse |
198 (2) |
| 3 |
Lees-McRae |
172 |
| 4 |
Mount Olive |
155 |
| 5 |
King |
150 |
| 6 |
Southern Wesleyan |
140 |
| 7 |
Belmont Abbey |
134 |
| 8 |
UNC Pembroke |
128 |
| 9 |
Young Harris |
110 |
| 10 |
Ferrum |
89 |
| 11 |
Emmanuel |
85 |
| 12 |
Erskine |
65 |
| 13 |
Barton |
63 |
| 14 |
Francis Marion |
57 |
| 15 |
Chowan |
22 |
