NEW YORK | After capturing its seventh consecutive Skyline Conference Men's Cross Country Championship last fall, the United States Merchant Marine Academy has been selected as the favorite to repeat in 2026, topping the Skyline Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll with 97 points and eight first-place votes. 

Merchant Marine delivered a dominant performances in Skyline Championship in 2025, recording a team score of 15 points by sweeping the top five individual finishers. Senior Luke Zweisler successfully defended his individual title, leading a Mariners squad that placed eight runners among the top 18 finishers en route to the program's seventh straight conference championship.

Farmingdale State was selected second with 89 points and one first-place vote after placing third at last year's championship. St. Joseph's-Long Island, the 2025 runner-up, earned 73 points to claim the No. 3 spot in the preseason rankings.

Manhattanville University was picked fourth with 62 points, while Maritime, which received one first-place vote, followed closely in fifth with 60 points. Yeshiva (53 points), Purchase (50 points, one first-place vote), St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (43 points), Sarah Lawrence (37 points), Old Westbury (22 points), and Mount Saint Mary (19 points) completed the preseason poll.

The 2026 Skyline Conference Men's Cross Country Championship, hosted by St. Joseph’s - Long Island at the Stony Brook Cross Country Course, is scheduled for October 25th.

Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
Rank, School, Points (First-place votes)
1. Merchant Marine, 97 (8)    
2. Farmingdale State, 89 (1)    
3. St. Joseph's-Long Island, 73    
4. Manhattanville, 62    
5. Maritime, 60 (1)    
6. Yeshiva, 53    
7. Purchase, 50 (1)    
8. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, 43    
9. Sarah Lawrence, 37    
10. Old Westbury, 22    
11. Mount Saint Mary, 19