WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State Cross Country finished 4^th in Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, totaling 428 points and one first place. Grace Pineda was among the LSC Runners to Watch.

LSC head coaches and sports information directors voted on the preseason poll, with reigning champions West Texas A&M selected first with 510 total points and 30 first place votes. UT Tyler (445 points) and DBU (444 points, one first place vote) rounded out the top three.

Midwestern State took home second place at last season's LSC Conference Championship Meet, the programs highest finish since 2018. The Mustangs then went on to take 10^th place at the NCAA South Central Regional Championship. From that 2025 squad, Grace Pineda is the only returner from the Mustangs top-5 scorers at the LSC Championships, while veterans Perla Flores, Isabel Hernandez, and Jazira Perez are back after competing at the LSC Championships. Midwestern State welcomed 11 newcomers to the squad, bring a contingent of 19 student-athletes to compete with the Mustangs in 2026.
 
Midwestern State have their first meet on Sept. 4 at the Aggie Duals hosted by Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. The Mustangs host their home meet on Sept. 17, hosted at Lake Wichita Park, beginning at 8 a.m.