Batesville, AR - The Lyon College men's cross country team has been voted to finish 6th in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 2026 pre-season poll. 

Scots received 26 points to be ranked 6th in the SLIAC poll. The Mississippi University for Women received 24 points to place 7th, with Eureka College being ranked 8th with 21 points, and Westminster College receiving 17 points to be ranked 9th.

Last year's conference champion Greenville University placed 1st with 62 points and seven first place votes. Principia College was ranked 2nd receiving 54 points and one first place vote, while Webster placed 3rd with 49 points while also receiving a first place vote. In 4th is Spalding earning 39 points and Blackburn received 32 points to earn the 5th place spot. 

Katherine Mayberry steps up into the head coach role after previously serving as the assistant coach. She will build her lineup around returners Gavin Bush and Collin Orvin. Orvin was the Scots top finisher in the team's final six races last year and finished with a season best time of 31:51. Bush is hoping for a fully healthy season while freshman Elijah Benton will look to bolster the lineup.

The 2026 season begins Friday, September 4th at Hendrix College hosted DIII Arkansas Championship starting at 7:00 PM.