RICHARDSON, TEXAS. – West Texas A&M Women's Cross Country took the top spot in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Preseason Poll as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon. Juniors Abigail Abugire and Naomi Addo were named the Runners to Watch
 
The LSC Preseason Poll is voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members. West Texas A&M accumulated 510 points with 30 of a possible 32 first place votes to sit at the top.
 
2026 LSC Preseason Poll
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)
 
WT is coming off another strong year where they three-peated as LSC Champions with 37 points, the sixth lowest mark in program history. Four Lady Buffs would earn All-LSC Honors with a top 15 finish. WT would go on to finish fifth in the Region with three All-Region runners and sixth at Nationals with three All-Americans.
 
Head Coach Zach Daniel will be at the helm for West Texas A&M as he enters his fifth season. During his four-year tenure, Daniel and the Lady Buffs have won the past three LSC Championships while he has simultaneously been named Coach of the Year over that span.
 
The junior duo of All-Americans in Abigail Abugire and Naomi Addo were named the Runners to Watch for West Texas A&M. 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. Abugire 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.
 
WT will have two other runners from last year's squad in juniors Isabella Celis and Yvonne Legarreta. Celis would take 56th at the LSC Championships while Legaretta came in 72nd.
 
The 2026 Lady Buffs will feature five new runners with two transfers and three freshman. Senior Léa Navarro comes from Adams State while junior Elaina McCulloch transfers from Hill College. Navarro placed 41st at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships and 75th at Nationals for the Grizzlies. Glenda Escobar, Lola Sarthou, and Ella Schuettler make up the Lady Buffs freshman class.
 
The Lady Buffs are set to begin their 2026 season on September 18 in Lubbock, Texas as they compete in the Texas Tech Open.
 
For all the latest on West Texas A&M Cross Country, stay tuned to gobuffsgo.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.