BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - FDU Women's Cross Country was picked as seventh in the NEC Preseason Poll, per a release from the conference office Tuesday afternoon. 

Defending champion CCSU was picked to be the top team once again by the conference's coaches, pulling down six first place votes. Stonehill finished in second place with three first place votes, followed by Wagner to round out the top three. The rest of the poll is below. 

1. CCSU (6)
2. Wagner (3)
3. Wagner
4. Mercyhurst
5. LIU
6. Le Moyne
7. FDU
8. New Haven 
9. Chicago State

The 2026 Women's Cross Country team will be headlined by six returners from the 2025 roster, most notably Temi Adebayo and MacKenna Calvin. Adebayo led the way for all of the cross country season last year for the burgundy and blue, finishing with the fastest time on the team in every event. Calvin ended the 2025 season on a phenomenal note, as she ran the third fastest time on the team at the 2025 NEC Cross Country Championships. 

The Knights will open their season at Lincoln Park in Jersey City, taking on Saint Peter's in dual meet on September 9th. The start time for that race is to be announced.