Canyon, Texas. – No. 4 West Texas A&M Men's Cross Country and No. 8 Women's Cross Country begin postseason action this weekend as they compete in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championships on Saturday, November 7. The Men's race will begin at 9:00 a.m. while the Women will race at 9:45 a.m.
 
Follow The Buffs
Both races will be streamed on Flo College (registration required) Results will be posted on NTX Timing. More info on the meet can be found here.
 
Last Time Out
West Texas A&M closed out the regular season three weeks ago as they competed in the Old Glory Gallop.
 
No. 4 Buffs Close Regular Season with Dominant Win at Old Glory Gallop- October 17, 2026
WT produced another season-low in points with 25 as they won the meet by over 100 points. They were followed by No. 30 Oklahoma Baptist (132), East Central (153), Drury (153), and DBU (210).  
 
Meshack Keter led the charge for the Buffs as he went wire-to-wire for the win. He finished with a time of 22:52.31 as he tallied his second straight victory. Diego Uribe was the next highest finisher for WT as he came in fourth. Uribe was in fifth at the 2k mark and moved up to fourth at 5k. He held that position the rest of the way to finish with a 23:23.03 time. Vivien Delin and Luca Minale went back-to-back as they finished fifth and sixth respectively. Both climbed positioning throughout the entire race after sitting in 13th and 14th at the 2k mark. The last Buff to score points was Tommaso Toppi who took 10th with a 23:37.89 mark. Toppi held his top 10 status for the entire race.
 
No. 4 West Texas A&M at Old Glory Gallop (8K)
October 17, 2026 | 8:15 a.m. | Fort Worth, Texas | AP Ranch
 
Team Score: 1st of 43 teams (25 points)
 
1. Meshack Keter- 22:52.31
4. Diego Uribe- 23:23.03
5. Vivien Delin- 23:27.13
6. Luca Minale- 23:28.08
10. Tommaso Toppi- 23:37.89
11. Merlijn Van der Velden- 23:40.35
12. Miles Cox- 23:46.35
88. Achille Bazantay- 25:07.15
151. Jordan Purcell- 25:40.49
173. Kaden Jenkins- 25:52.81
422. Kyle Richard- 28:50.0
 
Sarthou Leads No. 7 Lady Buffs to Title at Old Glory Gallop in Regular Season Finale- October 17, 2026
The Lady Buffs scored 80 points as they took the top spot. They were followed by East Central (91), No. 27 DBU (106), Oklahoma Baptist (159), and No. 21 Black Hills State (181).  
 
As a team, WT held their lead for the entirety of the race while Lola Sarthou had a strong pace as she was in second for the entire meet. She would finish with a time of 16:36.65. Abigail Abugire and Naomi Addo went back-to-back with a fourth and fifth place finish. Abugire climbed from seventh at the 3k to her fourth-place spot at the finish. Addo ran in the top five throughout en route to her 17:02.16 time. Ella Schuettler started out in 23rd at the 3k mark and made a strong push to finish 13th behind a 17:30.46 time. Isabella Celis was the final Lady Buff to score points as she finished 61st.
 
No. 7 West Texas A&M at Old Glory Gallop (5K)
October 17, 2026 | 9:15 a.m. | Fort Worth, Texas | AP Ranch
 
Team Score: 1st of 43 teams (80 points)
 
2. Lola Sarthou- 16:36.35
4. Abigail Abugire- 16:55.11
5. Naomi Addo- 17:02.16
13. Ella Schuettler- 17:30.46
61. Isabella Celis- 18:32.44
230. Elaina McCulloch- 20:24.75
 
LSC History
Coming into the LSC Championship, the Men have won 13 consecutive titles dating back to 2013. In the history of the conference, that streak trails only Abilene Christian who won 20 consecutive titles from 1991-2010.
 
The Women also look to extend their championship streak having completed a threepeat in last year's event. If the Women were to win their fourth straight title, that would tie Angelo State (1987-90) for the third longest streak in the LSC.
 
All runners that finish in the top 15 of the event will earn All-LSC Honors. Since their championship streak started in 2013, the Men have had 5+ runners earn the All-Conference nod every year in the event. The Women have had 4+ honorees every year since 2022.
 
The Buffs have also had a runner win the event in four of the past five years with Innicent Murwanashyaka (2021), Harry Louradour (2022), and William Amponsah (2023, 2024) all earning the crown. The Lady Buffs have boasted the champion in six consecutive seasons with Florance Uwajeneza (2020, 2021, 2022), Eleonora Curtabbi (2023), and Sarah Koomson (2024, 2025) all coming out victorious.
 
National Name
With his title in Fort Worth freshman Meshack Keter would be named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete of the Week for the third time this season. His time of 22:52.31 was the fastest of any D2 runner this season. The Eldoret, Kenya native would also be named LSC Men's Runner and Freshman of the Week for the third time.
 
Isn't It Sweep
Following the Old Glory Gallop, West Texas A&M would sweep the Lone Star Conference (LSC) weekly awards for the second time this season as Meshack Keter would be named Men's Runner and Freshman of the Week. Lola Sarthou was the Women's Runner of the Week while Ella Schuettler was Women's Freshman of the Week. This is the third time where West Texas A&M has earned all four LSC weekly awards with the second time coming on September 23 earlier this season after Keter (Men's Runner and Freshman) and Michelle Jemutai (Women's Runner and Freshman) were honored.
 
Four Wanting More
In the latest USTFCCCA Poll, the Buffs held their No. 4 ranking for the fourth consecutive week. This is the first time since 2024 where the Men have been ranked inside the top four in four consecutive weeks.
 
The Great Eight
On the Women's side, the Lady Buffs were ranked No. 8, which they have been for five polls.
 
Dynamic Duo
With both programs being ranked inside the top eight, WT was one of five teams in the country to have earned that feat. They were joined by Wingate, Colorado School of Mines, Adams State, Grand Valley State, and Chico State.
 
LSC Preseason Poll
In the inaugural LSC Preseason Poll, the Buffs and Lady Buffs each claimed the top spot as they both look to extend their LSC Championships streaks. The men have won 13 consecutive LSC Titles dating back to 2013, while the women three-peated as LSC Champs last fall and eye their fourth straight title.  
 
2026 Preseason Poll (Men)
1          West Texas A&M (389 points, 25 first place votes)
2          DBU (357 points, two first place votes)
3          UT Tyler (322 points, one first place vote)
4          Oklahoma Christian (295 points)
5          Cameron (249 points)
6          Lubbock Christian (233 points)
7          UT Dallas (209 points)
8          St. Edward's (198 points)
9          Texas A&M International (166 points)
10        Western New Mexico (162 points)
11        Texas A&M-Kingsville (146 points)
12        Angelo State (106 points)
13        Eastern New Mexico (73 points)
14        Sul Ross State (35 points)
 
2026 LSC Preseason Poll (Women)
1          West Texas A&M (510 points, 30 first place votes)
2          UT Tyler (445 points)
3          DBU (444 points, one first place vote)
4          Midwestern State (428 points, one first place vote)
5          Oklahoma Christian (379 points)
6          Cameron (325 points)
7          St. Edward's (303 points)
8          Lubbock Christian (265 points)
9          Texas A&M International (249 points)
10        Western New Mexico (245 points)
11        Texas A&M-Kingsville (201 points)
12        UT Dallas (176 points)
13        Eastern New Mexico (138 points)
14        Angelo State (132 points)
15        UT Permian Basin (78 points)
16        Sul Ross State (35 points)
 
Runners to Watch
In the LSC Preseason Polls, Tommaso Toppi, Vivien Delin, Abigail Abugire, and Naomi Addo were named the four runners to watch for West Texas A&M.
 
Toppi begins his second season in the maroon and white in 2026. He posted a time of 24:58.7 to finish fourth at the LSC Championships as he would be named LSC Newcomer of the Year. The Passo Corese, Italy native would go on to finish 30th at Regionals and 131st at Nationals. Delin enters his first season with WT after transferring from Wingate. The Gilly Les Citeaux, France native did not compete in any cross country events for the Bulldogs in 2025 but took sixth in the 5000 at the South Atlantic Indoor Championships for track and field. He also placed 23rd in the 10k at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
 
The junior All-American duo of Abugire and Addo each enter their third seasons with WT. Abugire would take third at the LSC Championships behind a time of 21:37.5 as she earned All-LSC honors for the second straight season. Running an identical time of 21:37.5 at the South Central Regional Championships would lead to her placing 23rd and securing All-South Central Region honors. The Legon, Ghana native would secure All-American honors after placing 40th at Nationals. Addo also had a decorated 2025 as she was the Runner-Up at the LSC Championships as she posted a 21:04.8 time. She would go on to take sixth in the Region and earn All-South Central Region Honors for the second straight year. Addo would cross the finish line 28th in Kenosha, Wisconsin at Nationals to secure All-American honors for the second straight season. She would also be named LSC Runner of the Year.
 
New Faces from New Places
Across both programs, there will be 16 new runners competing for West Texas A&M (10 men, six women). On the men's side, Achille Bazantay, Miles Cox, Vivien Delin, Kaden Jenkins, Léa Navarro, Lola Sarthou, and Ella Schuettler all joined the program over the offseason.
 
Daniel Delivers
Head Coach Zach Daniel enters his fifth season at the helm of West Texas A&M Cross Country in the 2026 season. Under Daniel, WT has won seven LSC Championships (four men, three women) while finishing in the top six every year at South Central Region Championships for both the men and women. West Texas A&M has placed 15th or better at Nationals for both programs during his tenure.
 
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