Cullowhee, N.C. – Coming off a historic finish a season ago that saw the Catamounts run to the podium in second place at the conference championship, the Western Carolina men's cross country team is projected to repeat its strong performance in 2025. The Catamounts were picked to finish second as the Southern Conference's preseason cross-country polls were unveiled today.
The Catamounts claimed 65 total points, garnering a first-place vote, and were followed by Samford's 62 points in the polls. Defending champion Furman was selected to claim a 13th straight team title, earning nine first-place votes and 81 total points.
The WCU women's cross country team was selected to finish in a close sixth-place battle in the SoCon preseason rankings with 44 points, just behind the 46 points earned by fifth-place Mercer. The Paladins were predicted to claim the women's conference title as well, earning nine first-place votes and 81 total points.
Fresh off claiming their best team finish since 1992, the Catamount men's cross-country team enters the 2025 season with Chase Thurber and Lawson Mecom expected to lead the way. The two are the only active Catamounts to rank within the top 15 of the all-time 8K performance list, sitting 7th and 10th, respectively. Fellow returners Justin Hayes, Matthew Womack, Peter Schihl, and Grant Parham will look to pace seven newcomers to the program among a strong recruiting class as the Catamounts make final preparations for the 2025 season.
The Catamount women's team returns all five of its top finishers from last year's conference championship, led by Katherine Hopkins and Peyton Skoglund who paced a strong distance group during the outdoor track season last spring. They are joined by Grace Lane, Hannah Kliner, and Riley McKinney as the returning class. Jessica Connole, Landey Green, Amaya Hicks, Sydney Lowe, Avery Mays, and Braelyn Shae-Wahy also return, while the squad welcomes newcomers Madeline Hladik and Ashlyn Watkins.
Western Carolina opens its three-event regular season ahead of the SoCon Cross Country Championships in Mill Spring, N.C., on Friday, Aug. 29.
2025 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Points
- Furman (9) - 81
- Western Carolina (1) - 65
- Samford - 62
- UNC Greensboro - 56
- Mercer - 45
- ETSU - 42
- Chattanooga - 41
- VMI - 28
- Wofford - 19
- The Citadel - 11
2025 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Points
- Furman (9) - 81
- Samford (1) - 71
- Chattanooga - 63
- ETSU - 56
- Mercer - 46
- Western Carolina - 44
- UNC Greensboro - 36
- VMI - 23
- Wofford - 19
- The Citadel - 11
