TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In the opening week of the 2025 cross country season, Alabama has found itself predicted as the top-ranked team, according to the Southeastern Conference’s Preseason Poll and the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA)’s Regional Rankings.

A season ago, the UA women captured the program’s fourth overall  SEC title, and second in the last three years, led by individual champion Doris Lemngole. The UA men, meanwhile, finished as the runner-up at the conference meet for the third consecutive year as all five scoring runners for Alabama finished in the top 25.

In 2024, UA’s Dismus Lokira highlighted the men’s South Regional Championships by claiming the individual title, spearheading a 1-2-3 finish from a trio of Alabama runners, as Lemngole captured a second-place, individual finish to pace the women’s side. The UA men won their eighth regional title, while the women secured their fifth regional crown, and second in the last three years.

SEC Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll

Men

• 1 – Alabama
• 2 – Arkansas
• 3 – Ole Miss
• 4 – Missouri
• 5 – Oklahoma
• 6 – Tennessee
• 7 – Texas A&M
• 8 – Georgia
• T-9 – Kentucky
• T-9 –Texas
• 11 – Florida
• 12 – Auburn
• 13 – Vanderbilt
• 14 – LSU

Women

• 1 – Alabama
• 2 – Florida
• 3 – Arkansas
• 4 – Oklahoma
• 5 – Texas A&M
• 6 – Mississippi State
• 7 – Missouri
• 8 – LSU
• 9 – South Carolina
• 10 – Tennessee
• 11 – Texas
• 12 – Ole Miss
• 13 – Vanderbilt
• 14 – Auburn
• 15 – Kentucky
• 16 – Georgia

USTFCCCA Cross Country Preseason South Region Rankings

Men

• 1 – Alabama
• 2 – Ole Miss
• 3 – Tennessee
• 4 – Georgia
• 5 – Lipscomb

Women

• 1 – Alabama
• 2 – Florida
• 3 – Lipscomb
• 4 – Florida State
• 5 – Tennessee

Up Next | Tennessee Cross Country Invitational

• Follow live: Live stats link is available at RollTide.com
• Date: Friday, Aug. 29
• Time (CT): Men – 8 a.m. | Women – 8:45 a.m.
• Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
• Venue: Tennessee Cross Country Course at Cherokee Farm