GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's cross country team was voted fourth in the Little East Conference preseason coaches' poll with 42 points. Plymouth State University held the top spot with 63 points and seven first-place votes. Second place went to Keene State College with 58 points and two remaining first-place votes. UMass Dartmouth finished with 45 points to place third.
The Huskies placed fourth at last season's conference championship meet. Senior
Julia Szewc (Hermon, Maine) is the top returning from last year, having placed 26th at the conference championship with a personal-best time at 24:53.50 as the fourth Husky to cross the finish line. Sophomore
Aeryn Babson (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle) came in right behind Szewc at the conference championships with a time of 24:54.6 to place 27th.
Sophomore
Rohen Brown (Auburn, Maine/Saint Dominic Academy), sophomore
Tanuja Khedkar (Bridgewater, Nova Scotia) and senior
Elise Schultz (Windham, Maine) also are returning to the Huskies' lineup after gaining valuable experience last season.
The Huskies are led by seventh-year head coach
Rob Whitten and will open the season on Friday, September 4 at the University of New England's Ron Ouellette Invitational in Biddeford, Maine.
| 2026 Little East Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1. |
Plymouth State |
63 points |
7 FPV |
| 2. |
Keene State |
58 points |
2 FPV |
| 3. |
UMass Dartmouth |
45 points |
|
| 4. |
Southern Maine |
42 points |
|
| 5. |
Eastern Connecticut |
35 points |
|
| 6. |
UMass Boston |
34 points |
|
| 7. |
Rhode Island College |
21 points |
|
| 8. |
Vermont State Castleton |
24 points |
|
| 9. |
Western Connecticut |
12 points |
|
-rwd-
