CANTON, Ga. — The Millsaps men's and women's cross country teams are ready to prove doubters wrong on the trails as the Southern Athletic Association released its 2026 preseason polls. The men's squad was picked eighth, while the women's team was selected ninth overall, as voted on by the league's nine coaches and announced on Tuesday.
On the men's side, Trinity University was picked first with 72 points and eight first-place votes. Centre College was selected to finish second with 62 points and one first-place vote.
Berry College claimed the third spot with 59 points, while Millsaps secured eighth place with 25 points. At the 2025 Southern Athletic Association Cross Country Championship, two Majors finished in the top 30.
Trinity University also finished first on the women's side with 72 points and eight first-place votes from the league's coaches. Centre College finished second with 63 points and one first-place vote.
The Millsaps College women's cross country team was picked ninth with 18 points but is expecting great things during the 2026 season as head coach Brandon Beckett's leadership continues to guide the team toward success.
The Majors will open their 2026 fall slate competing at the Mississippi Christian 5k Opener on Sept.4 in Clinton, Miss.
The complete 2026 SAA men's cross country preseason poll are as follows:
| 1) Trinity |
72 pts (8) |
| 2) Centre |
62 pts (1) |
| 3) Berry |
59 pts |
| 4) Rhodes |
53 pts |
| 5) Sewanee |
42 pts |
| 6) Southwestern |
33 pts |
| 7) Oglethorpe |
26 pts |
| 8) Millsaps |
25 pts |
| 9) Maryville |
24 pts |
The complete 2026 SAA women's cross country preseason poll are as follows:
| 1) Trinity |
72 pts (8) |
| 2) Centre |
63 pts (1) |
| 3) Rhodes |
59 pts |
| 4) Berry |
52 pts |
| 5) Southwestern |
43 pts |
| 6) Sewanee |
35 pts |
| 7) Oglethorpe |
32 pts |
| 8) Maryville |
22 pts |
| 9) Millsaps |
18 pts |
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps men's and women's cross country programs follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook and visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
