Wichita State men's cross country was selected third while the women were picked fifth in the American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Shocker men received two first-place votes after finishing third as a team at the 2025 American Conference Cross Country Championships in Concord, N.C. Wichita State returns four of its top seven from last year's conference meet, including conference champion and All-American Elkana Kipruto, as well as all-conference runner Kelvin Kipyego. Austin Carrera, a selection to the 2025 American Conference All-Freshman Team, also returns for the Shockers after advancing to the final at the 2026 U20 World Championships in the steeplechase for Team USA. The Wichita State men welcome high power senior transfer Nicholas Kipchirchir from Virginia Tech, who competed at the 2024 and 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships and finished 20^th at the 2025 ACC Cross Country Championships. The Shockers also added Arizona State transfer Dennis Rono to the roster, who finished 40^th at the 2025 Big 12 Cross Country Championships.
 
The Wichita State women were picked fifth by the conference coaches after finishing fifth in 2025. The Shockers return 2025 American Conference Freshman of the Year and all-conference performer, Mercy Jepkoech, as well as their No. 5 finisher from a season ago, Francesca Alvarado. American Conference distance medley relay champion and all-conference 1500-meter runner, Vivien Kipkorir will race in her first cross country season for the Shockers after joining the team at the beginning for the 2026 spring semester. The Shockers also return American Conference outdoor 800-meter champion Jasmine Stiede.
 
Tulane swept the No. 1 spots in the preseason poll, chosen unanimously on the women's side and receiving five first-place votes for the men. Tulsa claimed both No. 2 spots with five men's first-place votes and one women's.
 
Wichita State opens its 2026 cross country season at home on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 a.m., hosting the 78^th annual JK Gold Classic at Clapp Cross Country Course.
 
2026 American Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll

1	Tulane (5)	115
2	Tulsa (5)	113
3	Wichita State (2)	105
4	Charlotte	88
5	Rice	80
6	UNT	65
7	Temple	54
8	Memphis	51
9	UTSA	42
10	South Florida	40
11	East Carolina	25
12	Florida Atlantic	14

 Note: First-place votes denoted in parenthesis
 
2026 American Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll

1	Tulane (12)	144
2	Tulsa (1)	127
3	Rice	113
4	Charlotte	106
5	Wichita State	105
6	Florida Atlantic	84
7	UAB	83
8	UNT	71
9	East Carolina	53
10	Memphis	47
11	South Florida	40
12	Temple	25
13	UTSA	16

 Note: First-place votes denoted in parenthesis