INFO | USTFCCCA men's poll, October 1 edition
INFO | USTFCCCA women's poll, October 1 edition
 
New Orleans, La.----The Wingate University men's cross country team is No. 1 in the most recent NCAA Division II U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) coaches' poll. The Wingate women's XC team is No. 5. The Bulldog squads occupy the No. 1 spot in the Southeast Region rankings for both women and men.
 
The Bulldogs are the defending SAC and Southeast Region champions in both men's and women's cross country. The Wingate men finished second at the '24 national championship meet after winning the NCAA title in '23. The Bulldog women claimed eighth place at NCAAs last season.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate head cross country coach Pol Domenech
 
WOMEN: "It's exciting to see our women recognized on the national level. They've embraced the challenge of training together and building a culture that's bigger than any one individual. This ranking is a great place to be…and we're eager to see where we stand after our biggest race of the regular season at the Paul Short Run Friday. At the same time, we know this is just another step toward where we want to be when the championship season arrives."
 
MEN: "We're honored to be recognized as the number one team in the country. As I often say, rankings don't matter too much to us—championships aren't decided on paper. Our focus is on continuing to grow, compete and be ready when it matters most. We're excited to properly open our season at the Paul Short Run Friday."
 
12th annual Bulldog Stampede quick recaps
 
WOMEN: No. 5 Wingate finished second in the 12th annual Bulldog Stampede at the WU Cross Country Facility September 20. The Bulldogs had five runners in the top 16 to finish with 44 points. Freshman twins Abigail and Kiara Bester led the hosts, finishing fourth (21:59.15) and fifth (21:59.42), respectively.
 
MEN: No. 1 Wingate finished third in the 12th annual Bulldog Stampede Saturday at the WU Cross Country Facility September 20. The Bulldogs had five runners in the top 30 to finish with 93 points. Oskar Enseling celebrated his Senior Day in style, posting a 7K time of 22:09.97 to take seventh place.
 
On the horizon for Wingate XC
 
Wingate starts October in a familiar spot, visiting Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the 51st annual Paul Short Run Friday, October 3. Lehigh University hosts this race on its Goodman Campus Cross Country course. Lehigh is WU director of cross country and track and field Matt van Lierop's alma mater.
 
The Bulldogs have one more regular season race in October. Wingate visits the Queen City for the Royals Cross Country Challenge at McAlpine Creek Park on Friday, October 10. The Tusculum University Pioneers host the postseason SAC meet Saturday, October 25. The NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championships are Saturday, November 8 in Wingate, North Carolina.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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