RICHARDSON, Texas - The Oklahoma Christian men's cross country team was selected ninth in the 2025 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced Thursday, Aug. 28.

Defending LSC Champion West Texas A&M took first-place honors after garnering 27 of the available 28 first-place votes. DBU edged Western New Mexico by one point for second place while St. Edward's, who earned the only other first-place vote, and Texas A&M International rounded out the top-5.

Last year's Eagles squad had 12 freshmen out of its 24 runners, having OC finish ninth out of 12 teams at the 2024 LSC Championships. This year, head coach Wade Miller brings in just four freshman while four of the five top performers from last year's conference championship return in 2025.

Included in the 20 returners is LSC Runners to Watch graduate student Tegen Arega and sophomore Cole Powell. Joining as a newcomer is junior transfer Anthony Larin from NCAA Division I Oral Roberts. Prior to his college career, Larin was a two-time junior Olympic qualifier in high school.

Oklahoma Christian kicks off the new campaign with the RSU Distance After Dark in Tulsa, Okla. Thursday, Sept. 4. The men will then meet conference foe and meet host Midwestern State in the Mustang Derby in Wichita Falls, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.


2025 LSC PRESEASON POLL
 

Rank	School (1st-place votes)	Total
1	West Texas A&M (27)	419
2	DBU	343
3	Western New Mexico	342
4	St. Edward's (1)	336
5	Texas A&M International	321
6	UT Tyler	282
7	Texas A&M-Kingsville	235
8	Cameron	229
9	Oklahoma Christian	225
10	Lubbock Christian	165
11	Angelo State	138
12	UT Dallas	118
13	Eastern New Mexico	113
14	Sul Ross State	38