Tulane Cross Country Selected Atop Men’s and Women’s American Preseason Polls
Sep 1, 2026 | Cross Country
NEW ORLEANS – The American Conference has announced its preseason coaches polls for the upcoming men's and women's cross country campaigns with Tulane selected as the expected champion across both genders. The polls were voted on by the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own programs.
The Green Wave women's team, who is the defending conference champion and winner of two of the last three league titles, was tabbed as the No. 1 team entering the 2026 season with 12 of the 13 first-place votes. In all, Tulane secured 144 voting points with Tulsa placing second behind 127 points and the only other first-place nod. Rice (113), Charlotte (106), and Wichita State (105) round out the top five as the only other programs with 100-plus voting points.
On the men's side, results were much tighter. Tulane and Tulsa each notched five first-place votes, but the Wave secured a slight edge in voting points with 115 to the 113 of the Golden Hurricane. Wichita State earned two first-place votes and 105 points as the only other program to eclipse 100 or garner a top vote. Charlotte (88) and Rice (80) round out the top five.
Should the conference results follow the preseason voting, Tulane would become the first American program to sweep the men's and women's cross country titles since Tulsa claimed both in 2022. This would be the first championship sweep for the Green Wave ever. The Tulane women have won two of the last three conference titles, including last season's championship. The Green Wave men won two years ago in 2024, and they claimed a historic NCAA South Central Regional title last season after a conference runner-up placement.
Tulane opens its campaign at home this weekend by cohosting the Battle for New Orleans with crosstown foe LSU New Orleans. The event takes place at Lake Oaks Park on Friday, September 4. The meet begins with the women's 4,000m race at 5:15 p.m. with the men's 5,000m race following at 5:45 p.m. The American Conference Cross Country Championships will also take place at Lake Oaks Park on Saturday, October 31.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and men's and women's basketball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
The Green Wave women's team, who is the defending conference champion and winner of two of the last three league titles, was tabbed as the No. 1 team entering the 2026 season with 12 of the 13 first-place votes. In all, Tulane secured 144 voting points with Tulsa placing second behind 127 points and the only other first-place nod. Rice (113), Charlotte (106), and Wichita State (105) round out the top five as the only other programs with 100-plus voting points.
On the men's side, results were much tighter. Tulane and Tulsa each notched five first-place votes, but the Wave secured a slight edge in voting points with 115 to the 113 of the Golden Hurricane. Wichita State earned two first-place votes and 105 points as the only other program to eclipse 100 or garner a top vote. Charlotte (88) and Rice (80) round out the top five.
Should the conference results follow the preseason voting, Tulane would become the first American program to sweep the men's and women's cross country titles since Tulsa claimed both in 2022. This would be the first championship sweep for the Green Wave ever. The Tulane women have won two of the last three conference titles, including last season's championship. The Green Wave men won two years ago in 2024, and they claimed a historic NCAA South Central Regional title last season after a conference runner-up placement.
Tulane opens its campaign at home this weekend by cohosting the Battle for New Orleans with crosstown foe LSU New Orleans. The event takes place at Lake Oaks Park on Friday, September 4. The meet begins with the women's 4,000m race at 5:15 p.m. with the men's 5,000m race following at 5:45 p.m. The American Conference Cross Country Championships will also take place at Lake Oaks Park on Saturday, October 31.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and men's and women's basketball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
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