ROCK HILL, S.C. — Coming off the heels of another strong season on the course, Catawba College cross country enters the 2026 season with high expectations as the South Atlantic Conference preseason polls have the women's team picked to finish second and the men's team projected third the league office announced Thursday.

The Catawba women received one first-place vote in the preseason poll, continuing a recent stretch of success that has established the Catawba Indians as one of the conference's top programs. Catawba finished second at the 2025 NCAA Southeast Regional, earning its fourth consecutive National qualification.

Hannah Caudill returns to lead a talented group after another standout season. She finished third at the 2025 SAC Outdoor Championship and will be joined on the preseason runners-to-watch list by Mandi Pollard the reigning SAC Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year, in her debut season on the courses. Both runners will be key pieces as Catawba looks to turn its recent success into a run at the top of the conference standings.

On the men's side, Catawba was picked to finish third in the SAC preseason poll. The team returns a pair of runners who made their presence felt at last year's conference championship in Ian Pierce and Seth Caudill.

Pierce finished 12th at the 2025 SAC Championship, while Caudill crossed the line just two spots later in 14th. Their experience and consistency will be important for a Catawba team looking to continue moving up the conference standings.

That teams balance was on display following the 2025-26 season, when 12 Catawba cross country student-athletes earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, including Caudill and Pollard on the women's side.

Now, with another season ahead, the Indians will look to build on that foundation.

Caudill and Pollard will headline the women's runners to watch, while Pierce and Seth Caudill will lead the way for the men as Catawba sets its sights on another successful season in the South Atlantic Conference.

Catawba is set to open the 2026 season on Sept. 4 at the Elon Opener.
 
2026 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wingate (11)                  
2. Anderson (1) 
3. Catawba     
4. Lincoln Memorial    
5. Lenoir-Rhyne   
6. Emory & Henry  
7. Mars Hill    
8. Tusculum  
9. UVA Wise   
10. Carson-Newman
11. Newberry   
12. Coker  

2026 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wingate (11)  
2. Catawba (1)   
3. Anderson  
4. Lincoln Memorial   
5. Lenoir-Rhyne  
6. Carson-Newman   
7. Mars Hill    
8. Emory & Henry  
9. UVA Wise   
10. Tusculum    
11. Newberry  
12. Coker