RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Tuesday, the Great American Conference released the results of the 2025 men’s cross country preseason coaches poll. East Central received all seven available first-place votes to enter as the preseason favorite.

A season ago, the Tigers won their 10th GAC Championship and repeated as Central Region championships. They finished eighth at the NCAA Championships. They return a pair of 2024 First-Team All-GAC selections in Brian Mitei and Paul Korir. Mitei placed third and Korir took sixth. Both finished inside the top 15 at the Central Regional. ECU also brings back Aspel Kiprob, the 2023 GAC Runner of the Year.

Oklahoma Baptist claimed second in the voting. While the Bison must replace Maxamillian Wheeler - the runner-up at the 2024 GAC Championships - they return Emory Crayton, a First-Team honoree, and Ethan Banks, a Second-Team performer.

Harding took third. The Bisons must replace both of their 2024 First-Team All-GAC performers in Josphat Meli and Luke Walling. Meli won the individual title at the GAC Championships and Walling finished seventh. They do bring back four All-GAC runners in Noah Haileab, Nate Perry, Ryan McCarn and Tucker Allen.

Ouachita Baptist placed fourth. Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Arkansas tied for fifth. Southern Nazarene finished seventh and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the poll. The Rangers’ Christian Franklin comes back for his senior season after he claimed a spot on the All-GAC Second Team a season ago.

The majority of teams compete for the first time on the opening weekend of September. East Central and Oklahoma Baptist head to Rogers State for the RSU Distance After Dark event on Thursday the 4th. Southern Nazarene runs at Cameron’s Aggie Duels one day later. Ouachita Baptist hosts the Bob Gravett Invitational on Saturday the 6th with UAM and SAU also heading to Arkadelphia. That same day, Northwestern Oklahoma State heads to Texas for the UT Tyler Cross Country Opener. Harding opens one week later when it hosts the Steve Guymon Invitational.

The 2025 GAC Championships take place on Saturday, October 25 at Arkansas-Monticello.