CORVALLIS, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University Cross Country teams enter the 2026 season with both the men's and women's teams ranked among the top five in the Cascade Collegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Thursday.

The Mountie men were picked fifth, receiving 109 points and two first-place votes after a standout 2025 campaign that saw Eastern Oregon capture the CCC Championship in Independence, Oregon. The Mounties won the conference title by 71 points while competing against five other nationally ranked opponents.

Eastern entered the 2025 NAIA National Championship Meet ranked No. 6 nationally and earned an automatic bid after winning the conference championship. The Mounties went on to finish seventh nationally with 290 points, highlighted by a 31st-place All-American performance from Grady Greenwood.

The men's team will look to build on that success while replacing All-Conference honorees Thomas Ogden and Darian Slack, along with top performer James Thatcher. Greenwood returns as an All-Conference and All-American performer, joined by returning standouts Trevor Nichols, Hunter Marlatt, Luke Davis, Skyler Perkins, and Cooper Gover.

On the women's side, Eastern Oregon was selected third in the CCC preseason poll, collecting 116 points after finishing third at the 2025 CCC Championship in Independence. The Mounties finished behind a pair of nationally ranked top-20 opponents.

The women entered the 2025 NAIA National Championship Meet ranked No. 18 nationally and earned an at-large bid following their third-place conference finish. Eastern went on to place 22nd nationally with 569 points, led by a 33rd-place All-American performance from Riley Morris.

The Mounties will look to fill the void left by Morris, an All-Conference and All-American honoree, while returning All-Conference performer Kaleah Hines. Eastern also returns top performers Mattie Woodbury, Kiah Carlson, Taylor Redick, Sadie McCoy, Kennedy Taylor, Jaiden Cochran, Lauren Hruschka, and Ashley Treadwell.

Head Coach Ben Welch returns for his 36th season leading the Eastern Oregon Cross Country programs. Welch, a 14-time Coach of the Year, will guide the Mounties into the 2026 season as both teams look to build on their national championship performances and contend for another strong finish in the CCC.

2026 CCC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1. Southern Oregon University (8)	139
2. College of Idaho	121
3. Corban University (2)	117
4. Trinity Western University	112
5. Eastern Oregon University (2)	109
6. Northwest University	84
7. Oregon Institute of Technology	70
8. Lewis-Clark State College	61
9. The Evergreen State College	44
10. Bushnell University	28
11. Walla Walla University	27
12. Warner Pacific University	24

 

2026 CCC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll

Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1. College of Idaho (10)	142
2. Southern Oregon University (1)	126
3. Eastern Oregon University	116
4. Lewis-Clark State College	110
5. Corban University	90
6. Trinity Western University (1)	75
7. Oregon Institute of Technology	72
8. Northwest University	62
9. The Evergreen State College	58
10. Bushnell University	44
11. Walla Walla University	23
12. Warner Pacific University	15