SILVER CITY, NM – Western New Mexico University women's cross country was selected 10th in the 2026 Lone Star Conference preseason poll, as the league announced its preseason selections Tuesday.

The Mustangs received 245 points in the preseason poll, which was voted on by LSC head coaches and sports information directors. Western New Mexico enters the season with a pair of experienced seniors leading the way on the LSC Runners to Watch list.

Jeannette Rivera (El Paso, TX/Young Women's Leadership Academy) and McKenna Sahd (Angel Fire, NM/Cimarron High School) were both selected as LSC Runners to Watch heading into the 2026 campaign.

Rivera, a senior from El Paso, Texas, is pursuing a degree in kinesiology, while Sahd, a senior from Angel Fire, New Mexico, is majoring in biology. Both return to anchor a Mustang squad looking to make its mark throughout the upcoming season.

Western New Mexico is part of a competitive LSC field led by West Texas A&M, which was selected as the preseason favorite after receiving 30 of the 32 possible first-place votes. UT Tyler was picked second, followed by DBU, Midwestern State and Oklahoma Christian to round out the top five.

The Mustangs will begin the 2026 season in early September as they prepare for a challenging conference schedule and the postseason ahead.

The LSC Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Nov. 7 at the LCU Cross Country Course in Lubbock, Texas, where Lubbock Christian will serve as host. The NCAA Division II South Central Regional will follow on Nov. 21 at the same course.

With Rivera and Sahd providing veteran leadership, Western New Mexico will look to continue building throughout the season and compete among the Lone Star Conference's top programs.

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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).