OXFORD, Ohio- The RedStorm of the University of Rio Grande remain the favorites in men's cross country, as the defending RSC champions took the top spot in the 2026 RSC Preseason Coaches Poll. The poll, announced Thursday by the River States Conference office, saw each of the conference's nine head coaches rank the other member schools in order of predicted finish.
Rio Grande inched past IU East on their home course last season, and earned six of the nine available first place votes. Rio boasts the top returning runner in the conference for 2026, as 2025 bronze medalist Ryder Crawford returns to lead the RedStorm. IU East claimed the other three first place votes, finishing just four points behind Rio Grande. The Red Wolves feature the other returning First Team All-Conference selection from last season in Max Kline, who finished sixth in Rio Grande.
The top five of the coaches poll was rounded out by third place IU Kokomo, with Midway fourth and St. Mary-of-the-Woods placing at the middle of the conference in fifth. The bottom half of the poll continues with IU Columbus sixth, Brescia seventh, WVU Tech eighth, and Kentucky Christian rounding out the poll in ninth.
The River States cross country schedule is scheduled to begin Friday, September 4, with four teams in competition, including three at the IWU Twilight Invitational in Marion, Indiana on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University.
The season will culminate on one of the biggest stages in American cross country, as the 2026 RSC Cross Country Championships heads to the storied LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. A champion will be decided on Saturday, November 7 on grounds that have determined national champions at the NCAA Division I level more than a dozen times.
2026 RSC PRESEASON MEN's CROSS COUNTRY COACHES' POLL
1. Rio Grande (62 points, 6 first place votes)
2. IU East (58 points, 3 first place votes)
3. IU Kokomo (51 points)
4. Midway (41 points)
5. St. Mary-of-the-Woods (29 points)
6. IU Columbus (28 points)
7. Brescia (25 points)
8. WVU Tech (22 points)
9. Kentucky Christian (8 points)