INFO | USTFCCCA women's poll, preseason edition
 
New Orleans, La.----The Wingate University women's cross country team is No. 3 in the preseason NCAA Division II U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) coaches' poll. The Bulldogs occupy the No. 1 spot in the Southeast Region rankings.
 
Wingate is the defending SAC and Southeast Region champion in women's cross country. The Bulldog women finished a program-best third place at NCAAs last season. Wingate had its first four All-Americans in program history: Abigail and Kiara Bester, Evie Brooks and Karlijn Mesman.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate sophomore student-athlete Abigail Bester

"All the girls are obviously excited to be ranked third in the nation, but we try hard not to focus on these pressures and expectations throughout the season. We are proud to be recognized as a major competitor, but these numbers mean nothing really until we race on December 4 (at NCAAs)."
 
"Our preseason training so far hasn't been very glamorous, mostly just building the mileage back up. Workouts have started up again, but we're taking it week by week as we work towards the big day in Kansas. The women's team is excited for the upcoming races - the team is stacked with so many talented student-athletes. We can't wait to line up with each other this season."  
 
Schedule highlights for Wingate XC
 
The Bulldogs open the 2026 season Friday, Sept. 11, venturing to Charlotte for the Queen City Invitational at McAlpine Creek Park. The Converse University Kick-Off is Saturday, September 19. The event serves as a Southeast Regional Preview race for teams from the Conference Carolinas, the Peach Belt Conference and the South Atlantic Conference.
 
Wingate starts October in a familiar spot, visiting Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the Paul Short Run October 2. 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 two more regular season races in October. Wingate visits the Queen City for the Royals Cross Country Challenge at McAlpine Creek Park on October 9. The Bulldogs travel to Charlottesville, Virginia October 16 for the Panorama Farms Invitational, hosted by the University of Virginia Cavaliers.
 
Wingate hosts the postseason SAC meet Saturday, November 7 at the WU Cross Country Facility. Converse hosts the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championships on Saturday, November 21 at Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The 2026 NCAA Division II national championship meet is Friday, December 4 in Lawrence, Kansas.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 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 18 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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