Men’s Cross Country Unanimously Tabbed GAC Preseason Favorite
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Tuesday, the Great American Conference unveiled the 2025 men's cross country preseason coaches poll, with East Central University earning unanimous support as the team to beat. The Tigers claimed all seven available first-place votes for a total of 49 points to enter the season as the preseason favorite.
The recognition comes on the heels of another dominant year for ECU. The Tigers captured their 10th GAC Championship, and third straight, before going on to repeat as Central Region champions. Their postseason run culminated with an impressive eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in Sacramento, California.
Returning to lead the charge in 2025 are First-Team All-GAC honorees
Brian Mitei,
Paul Korir, and
Peter Kipkemboi. Mitei claimed third at last year's GAC Championships, while Korir placed sixth and Kipkemboi finished eighth. All three runners earned top-20 finishes at the Central Regional meet. The Tigers also welcome back
Aspel Kiprob, the 2023 GAC Runner of the Year, adding even more experience and firepower to an already loaded roster.
Oklahoma Baptist secured the second spot in the preseason poll, followed closely by Harding in third. Ouachita Baptist landed in fourth, while Northwestern and Southern Arkansas shared a tie for fifth. Southern Nazarene claimed the seventh position, and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the rankings.
The ECU cross country team will open their season on Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Distance After Dark meet hosted by Rogers State University.
