TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State men's cross country has been picked to finish fourth in the 2026 CCAA Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Warriors, coached by Darren Holman, received 82 points in the preseason voting. Chico State was selected as the preseason favorite with 121 points and 11 first-place votes. Cal Poly Pomona was picked second with 108 points, followed by Cal State San Marcos in third with 90 points. Stan State's 82 points placed the Warriors fourth, four points ahead of fifth-place Fresno Pacific.

Stan State is coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2025 CCAA Championships. Mason Oliveira highlighted the Warriors' performance by earning All-CCAA First Team honors. The Warriors concluded their 2025 season with a 13th-place finish out of 24 teams at the NCAA Division II West Regional in Monmouth, Ore.

The Warriors return a veteran group for the 2026 season, led by juniors Mason Oliveira and Jackson Oliveira. Also returning are senior Diego Cisneros; juniors Jason Arriaza, Tanner Gerhart, Austin Hein and Julian Hernandez; and sophomores Quentin Clarke, Patricio Kearney and Guardave Pandher.  Stan State welcomes three freshmen to this year's roster in Jace Campos (Los Banos/Pacheco HS), Andrew Morales (Turlock/Escalon HS/San Joaquin Delta College) and Larson Wejmar (Turlock/Turlock HS). 

Stan State opens the 2026 season Friday, Sept. 4 at the USF Invite. The Warriors will host the Kim Duyst Twilight on Saturday, Sept. 12, at River Oaks Golf Course in Ceres, with the men's 8K scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

The Warriors return to San Francisco on Friday, Oct. 9, for the SF State Invite at Speedway Meadows before beginning postseason competition Saturday, Nov. 7, at the CCAA Cross Country Championships in San Bernardino.

The NCAA Division II West Regional will be held Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento. The NCAA Division II National Championship is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan.

2026 CCAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

1. Chico State (11) – 121 points
2. Cal Poly Pomona – 108
3. Cal State San Marcos – 90
4. Stan State – 82
5. Fresno Pacific – 78
6. Cal Poly Humboldt – 66
7. Cal State East Bay – 50
8. Cal State Monterey Bay – 44
9. San Francisco State – 35
10. UC Merced – 34
11. Cal State Los Angeles – 18

(first place votes)