GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's cross country team has placed sixth in the 2025 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Pool with 34 points. Keene State led the poll with 64 points and eight first-place votes. Second place went to Eastern Connecticut with 51 points while UMass Dartmouth and Plymouth State tied for third with 45 points each.

Junior Gwen Catalano (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle), a Second Team All-LEC performer at last season's championships event, headlines the group of the returners. Catalano placed eighth at the conference championship last season with a time of 19:22.1 on the 5k course. She also was the team's top performer at the Division III East Region Cross Country Championships with a 50th place finish. Her placing at regionals, along with her grades in the classroom, earned her a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Athlete citation.

In addition to Catalano, all seven Huskies who competed at the LEC Championship are back for another season. Senior Lucy Depolito (North Andover, Mass.) ran a personal-best time of 20:20.70 to place 23rd and was the second Husky to cross the finish line. Senior Anabel Melanson (West Warren, Mass./Quaboag) placed 34th with a time of 20:57.70 to also set a personal-best. The Huskies placed fifth in the team standings and will be looking to move up the leaderboard with their experienced team.

The Huskies and sixth-year head coach Rob Whitten begin the season on September 6 at the Ron Ouellette Invitational hosted by the University of New England.

2025 Little East Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll (FPV)
1.	Keene State	64 points	8
2.	Eastern Connecticut	51 points
T3.	UMass Dartmouth	45 points
T3.	Plymouth State	45 points	1
5.	Rhode Island College	36 points
6.	Southern Maine	34 points
7.	UMass Boston	23 points
8.	Western Connecticut	18 points
9.	VTSU-Castleton	8 points