BRIDGEPORT — The University of Charleston received eight-first place votes during preseason voting and has been named the 2024 preseason favorite to win the Mountain East Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship, the league announced Friday.

Last season, the Charleston women’s cross country team won their fourth-consecutive championship and had four runners place in the top 10. UC also won the 2023 NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Women’s Cross Country Championship.

The Golden Eagles tallied 98 total points and was followed by Davis & Elkins in the poll (93 points and three-first place votes), Concord (76), West Virginia Wesleyan (74) and Frostburg State (66) rounded out the top five.

The bottom half of the preseason poll was Point Park (44), West Liberty (44), Fairmont State (39), Glenville State (33), Wheeling (27) and second-year program West Virginia State (11).

The 2024 Women’s cross country season will get underway Friday, Sept. 6 for several MEC programs. The 2024 MEC Cross Country Championship is set for Saturday, Oct. 26 at Oglebay Resort’s Crispin Golf Course.


MEC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Charleston (8) – 98
2. Davis & Elkins (3) – 93
3. Concord – 76
4. West Va. Wesleyan – 74
5. Frostburg State – 66
T6. Point Park – 44
T6. West Liberty – 44
8. Fairmont State – 39
9. Glenville State – 33
10. Wheeling – 27
11. West Virginia St. – 11
* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team
( ) First-place votes