Batesville, AR - The Lyon College women's cross country team is tied 2nd in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 2026 pre-season poll. 

Scots received 42 points to be ranked tied 2nd. Principia placed third receiving 40 points, while the Mississippi University for Women earned 5th place with 37 points. Just three points behind in 6th place is Blackburn with 34 points, followed by 7th place Spalding (31). Bringing up the rear is Westminster at 8th with 18 points and Eureka in 9th with 16 points. 

The Scots finished 3rd at last year's championship but first-year head coach Katherine Mayberry as a pair of talented runners to build around in Brooklynn Collins and Maddie DeRoussel. The duo traded off top team finishes throughout the 2025 season with Collins crossing first at both the conference championship and regionals. DeRoussel remains the highest finisher by a Scot at the conference championship, placing 5th at the 2024 meet. Both runners earned Second Team All-Conference honors last season. Briley Brown is new to the program and will look to add to the lineup depth.

The 2026 season begins Friday, September 4th at Hendrix College hosted DIII Arkansas Championship starting at 6:30 PM.