NEW ORLEANS--- Stan State women's cross country will head into the 2026 campaign as the No. 2 team in the NCAA Division II West Region following the release of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason regional rankings.
The Warriors climbed three spots from their final ranking of the 2025 season, when they concluded the year at No. 5 in the West. Stan State is one of four California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) programs represented in the preseason top 10.
Chico State earned the region's No. 1 ranking, giving the CCAA the top two teams in the West with Stan State second. Cal Poly Pomona gives the conference three of the region's top three teams at No. 3, while Cal State San Marcos enters the season at No. 8.
Biola leads the PacWest contingent at No. 4, followed by CUI at No. 5. Western Washington and Western Oregon of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) occupy the sixth and seventh spots. Central Washington is ninth, with Point Loma Nazarene completing the preseason top 10.
Stan State gets its first opportunity to compete this Friday, Sept. 4, at the USF Invite at Hellman Hollow in San Francisco. The women's race is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The Warriors then return to the Central Valley to host the Kim Duyst Twilight on Saturday, Sept. 12, at River Oaks Golf Course in Ceres. The meet gets underway at 5:15 p.m., with the women's collegiate 6K race scheduled for 9 p.m. Stan State heads back to San Francisco on Oct. 9 for the SF State Invite at Speedway Meadows in its final scheduled competition before the postseason.
The CCAA Cross Country Championships will take place Nov. 7 at the CSUSB Cross Country Course in San Bernardino, with the women's race scheduled for 11 a.m. The NCAA Division II West Regional follows Nov. 21 at Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento. The NCAA Division II National Championship is set for Dec. 4 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas.
USTFCCCA NCAA Division II West Region Rankings
- Chico State (CCAA)
- Stan State (CCAA)
- Cal Poly Pomona (CCAA)
- Biola (PacWest)
- CUI (PacWest)
- Western Washington (GNAC)
- Western Oregon (GNAC)
- Cal State San Marcos (CCAA)
- Central Washington (GNAC)
- Point Loma Nazarene (PacWest)
