STEPHENVILLE, Texas — For the second-straight season, Tarleton State Men's Cross Country is ranked in the top 15 in the USTFCCCA preseason rankings announced on Monday.
The Texan men were tabbed 14
th in the South Central Region ahead of its 2026 campaign after placing in 14
th at the South Central Championships last year in Fayetteville. The Texan men are one of three teams in the inaugural year of the United Athletic Conference to be ranked in the top 15 in their respective regions. The only other UAC squad tabbed in the top 15 in the South Central Region is UT Arlington. Eastern Kentucky is the top ranked UAC squad slated second in the Southeast Region.
"Being ranked 14th in the South Central Region is a great recognition of the direction our men's cross country program is headed, but we also understand that this is only the beginning," said head coach
Bobby Carter. "Our athletes have worked extremely hard, our coaching staff has been intentional in building this program, and we believe we have the talent and culture to compete at an even higher level. We're proud to be recognized, but we're not satisfied. Our goal is to continue climbing these rankings, competing for championships, and establishing Tarleton State as one of the premier programs in the region."
Tarleton State welcomes back three returners on the men's side from last season.
Diego Flores headlines the returning squad as the top Texan finisher last year at the South Central Region Championships with a 60
th place performance.
Mez Barth also returns following a 63
rd place performance at the regional meet and the top returning Texan finisher at the WAC Championships a season ago.
Tyler Hedgepeth paced the Texans in the first two meets of the season last year with a pair of top 10 performances.
"I'm excited about our team heading into this season," said distance coach
Christopher Zent. "This group being full of young talent has a multitude of potential that is just waiting to be unlocked. I am really looking forward to this group grow and progress this season and see what the future holds for us."
The Purple and White will kick off their season along with the women on Friday at the John McKenzie Invitational hosted by TCU. It will mark the fourth consecutive season that the Texans open up the season at that meet. The men are slated to race first at 7:30 am with the women following at 8am. Both will be running 5K's.
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