PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Plymouth State University women's cross country team was picked to defend its Little East Conference (LEC) title as the league released its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday.
 
The Panthers earned seven first-place votes and 63 points to lead the poll, with Keene State receiving the other two first-place votes and 58 points. UMass Dartmouth (45) edged Southern Maine (42) for third place, with Eastern Connecticut (35) just ahead of UMass Boston (34) in fifth. Rhode Island College (21), VTSU Castleton (14) and WestConn (12) rounded out the poll.
 
Alice Field enters her third season as head coach after earning LEC Coaching Staff of the Year honors last fall. Following their LEC Championship, Field guided the Panthers to a program-best 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division III East Regional Championship. All five point-scorers from last year's championship team return in 2026, giving the Panthers a strong opportunity to repeat.
 
Senior Rose Karow (South Yarmouth, Mass.) ran the second-fastest time in program history at the LEC Championships last fall to place fourth, before shattering the program record at the regional and earning All-LEC and All-Region honors.
 
The remaining four point-scorers each set personal bests and finished among the top 14 at the LEC Championships to earn All-LEC Second Team honors. Sophomore Emma Talon (Southington, Conn.) placed 10th and earned LEC Rookie Runner of the Year honors as the top-finishing first-year competitor, while classmate Madison Geddes (Penacook, N.H.) finished 12th. Junior Mia Sweeney (Plymouth, Mass.) and senior Abby Bergeron (Essex, Vt.) also provide veteran leadership after finishing 13th and 14th, respectively, at last year's championship meet.
 
The Panthers get an early look at the NCAA Division III East Regional course when they open the season at the NCAA Regional Preview, hosted by Bates College at the Wainwright Recreation Complex in South Portland, Maine, on Sept. 5. PSU has meets scheduled every other weekend, with the LEC Championship at VTSU Castleton on Oct. 31 and the NCAA Division III East Regional on Nov. 14.