LAKE CHARLES – McNeese cross country head coach Brendon Gilroy has announced the 2026 men's and women's cross country schedule.

In addition, the Southland Conference announced its first-ever preseason poll where the both the Cowboys and Cowgirls are picked fifth.

McNeese will host three meets including the Southland Conference XC Championships on October 30 at the Enos Derbonne Sports Complex.

The season gets started on September 4 with the McNeese Season Opener. The Cowboys and Cowgirls will host the McNeese Cowboy Stampede on Sept. 26. Both meets will run at the Enos Derbonne Sports Complex.

Two road meets are scheduled - Sept. 18 at the LSU XC Invitational and Oct. 16 at the Texas A&M Arturo Barrios Invite.

The NCAA South Central Regional XC Championships will be hosted by Texas A&M on November 13 while the NCAA Championships will run at Terre Haute, Indiana on Nov. 21.

2026 McNeese Cross Country Schedule
Sept. 4 McNeese Season Opener
Sept. 18 at LSU XC Invitational
Sept. 26 McNeese Cowboy Stampede
Oct. 16 at Texas A&M Arturo Barrios Invitational
Oct. 30 SLC Championships (Lake Charles)
Nov. 13 at NCAA South Central Regionals (College Station, Texas)
Nov. 21 at NCAA Championships (Terre Haute, Ind.)

Southland Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. SFA - 121 (11)
2. A&M-Corpus Christi - 109 (1)
3. UIW - 102
4. Lamar - 83
T5. McNeese - 78
T5. UTRGV - 78
7. HCU - 57
8. East Texas A&M - 54
9. LSU-New Orleans - 47
10. Nicholls - 29
11. Northwestern State - 18
12. Southeastern - 16 

Southland Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. SFA - 117 (1)
2. A&M-Corpus Christi - 115 (5)
3. UTRGV - 98
4. UIW - 90
5. McNeese - 75
6. Lamar - 69
7. LSU-New Orleans - 60
8. HCU - 56
9. Nicholls - 43
10. East Texas A&M - 37
11. Southeastern - 17
12. Northwestern State - 15