SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel men's and women's cross country teams were ranked tenth overall in the Southern Conference Cross Country Preseason Poll ahead of the 2025 season, according to the conference on Wednesday afternoon. The annual poll is conducted by the league's ten head coaches.
 
The Furman men's and women's teams received all nine first-place votes for a total of 81 points.
 
Western Carolina's men were predicted to finish second with 65 points, receiving one first-place vote. Samford was third with 62 points, UNCG fourth with 56, followed by Mercer (45), ETSU (42), Chattanooga (41), VMI (28), Wofford (19), and The Citadel (11).
 
In the women's poll, Samford is predicted to finish second with 71 points and the remaining first-place vote. Chattanooga follows with 63 points in the third spot and ETSU at 56 in the fourth spot, followed by Mercer (46), Western Carolina (44), UNCG (36), VMI (23), Wofford (19), and The Citadel (11).
 
2025 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1.              Furman (9) - 81 
2.              Western Carolina (1) - 65 
3.              Samford - 62  
4.              UNC Greensboro - 56 
5.               Mercer - 45  
6.              ETSU - 42  
7.              Chattanooga - 41  
8.              VMI - 28  
9.              Wofford - 19  
10.           The Citadel - 11 
 
2025 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1.              Furman (9) - 81 
2.              Samford (1) - 71  
3.              Chattanooga - 63 
4.              ETSU - 56  
5.              Mercer - 46 
6.              Western Carolina - 44 
7.              UNC Greensboro - 36 
8.              VMI - 23 
9.              Wofford - 19  
10.            The Citadel - 11