Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Men’s Cross Country voted Conference USA favorite in preseason poll; Women picked second
8/28/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's and women's cross country programs are heading into the 2025 season with high expectations, as both squads landed near the top of the Conference USA Coaches Preseason Poll.
The Blue Raider men's team was picked as the preseason favorite, narrowly edging out Liberty despite tying in overall points. MTSU earned the top spot thanks to six first-place votes to Liberty's four.
Returning a strong core, the men's roster features 2024 CUSA Individual Champion and All-American Allan Kiplagat, along with CUSA First Teamer Brian Kiptoo and Second Team honoree Jacinto Gaspar. The team is further bolstered by key additions, including Moses Lekokei, the 2024 Mid-American Conference third-place finisher from Akron, and a promising trio of incoming freshmen.
On the women's side, Middle Tennessee was picked to finish second, just behind Liberty, but still claimed three first-place votes. The squad returns nearly its entire roster and adds a major asset in Faith Nyathi, who returns to competition after redshirting the 2024 season.
The XC season kicks off on Saturday, August 30 in Memphis for the Memphis Twilight Classic.
Men's XC Preseason Poll
Women's XC Preseason Poll
The Blue Raider men's team was picked as the preseason favorite, narrowly edging out Liberty despite tying in overall points. MTSU earned the top spot thanks to six first-place votes to Liberty's four.
Returning a strong core, the men's roster features 2024 CUSA Individual Champion and All-American Allan Kiplagat, along with CUSA First Teamer Brian Kiptoo and Second Team honoree Jacinto Gaspar. The team is further bolstered by key additions, including Moses Lekokei, the 2024 Mid-American Conference third-place finisher from Akron, and a promising trio of incoming freshmen.
On the women's side, Middle Tennessee was picked to finish second, just behind Liberty, but still claimed three first-place votes. The squad returns nearly its entire roster and adds a major asset in Faith Nyathi, who returns to competition after redshirting the 2024 season.
The XC season kicks off on Saturday, August 30 in Memphis for the Memphis Twilight Classic.
Men's XC Preseason Poll
- MTSU (6) 76
- Liberty (4) 76
- Kennesaw State 62
- Jacksonville State 55
- NM State 48
- Sam Houston 39
- UTEP 34
- WKU 30
- FIU 18
- LA Tech 9
Women's XC Preseason Poll
- Liberty (9) 119
- MTSU (3) 110
- Kennesaw State 100
- NM State 87
- FIU 76
- Delaware 66
- Jax State 60
- Missouri State 52
- UTEP 43
- WKU 37
- Sam Houston 31
- LA Tech 11
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Distance
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