The Shippensburg University men’s cross country team was ranked first in the 2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Wednesday.
Shippensburg received 13 first-place votes. East Stroudsburg received two first-place votes and ranked second. West Chester, Kutztown and Slippery Rock completed the top five.
The poll is selected by PSAC coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own teams.
Shippensburg is led by head coach Steve Spence, who enters his 29th season with the Raiders. SU has won three consecutive PSAC championships and has finished first or second at the conference meet in each of the past six years.
The Raiders enter the 2026 season with a 13-member roster consisting of 10 returning runners and three first-year recruits.
Four of Shippensburg’s six All-PSAC performers from last season return. Tommy Crum Jr. finished fourth, Ben Devine placed eighth, Ramon Urena finished 20th and Brennan Wellock placed 24th.
Garrett Quinan, who finished second last season, and Ryan Wolfe, who placed sixth, have exhausted their eligibility. Both remain with the program as student assistant coaches.
Shippensburg will open its season Friday, Sept. 4, by hosting the Galen Piper Cross Country Challenge at the campus recreation complex.
2026 PSAC Preseason Men’s Cross Country Poll
- Shippensburg (13)
- East Stroudsburg (2)
- West Chester
- Kutztown
- Slippery Rock
- Edinboro
- Lock Haven
- Gannon
- IUP
- Bloomsburg
- California
- Seton Hill
- Mansfield
- Pitt-Johnstown
- Shepherd
