Lancaster, Pa. – (10/29/2026) – With the 2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Cross Country Championship scheduled for this Saturday, October 31 (11:00 a.m.), Conference Commissioner Rebecca Mullen has officially released the results of the coaches'
Pre-Championship Poll. Gwynedd Mercy University placed second in the forecasted finish by garnering two of the five available first-place votes and totaling 13 points. The Red and Gold were edged out for the top spot by Immaculata University who also received two first-place votes, but totaled 14 points. Behind the Mighty Macs and Griffins, the league's five head coaches placed Marymount University (12 points, 1 first-place vote), Pratt Institute (7), and Saint Elizabeth University (4).
Sophomore
Conner Brennan (Hatboro, Pa.) is the only Griffin on the roster who was present at the 2025 AEC Men's Cross Country Championships. There, Gwynedd Mercy University did not qualify for a team score, but it did celebrate All-AEC Second Team finishes for Brennan (8
th, 29:35.5) and
Sebastian DeSimone '26 (11th, 31:21.7). In 2026, Brennan has enjoyed the support of a deeper roster; the Red and Gold added five freshmen and a junior that helped them earn team scores at the DeSales University Invitational (T5th of 8, 179 points on Sept. 19) and Rowan University's Border Battle (8
th of 12, 244 points on Oct. 17). Of the newcomers, freshman
Jake Killen (Lansdale, Pa.) has emerged as the Griffins' top recruit. He was the Red and Gold's top finisher (72
nd, 30:44.0) at Lebanon Valley College's Dutchmen Invitational (Sept. 5) and second, behind Brennan, at the DeSales University Invitational (53
rd, 30:20.0) and the Border Battle (46
th, 31:50.9). Brennan finishes at DeSales University Invitational (33
rd, 28:37.6) and the Border Battle (40
th, 31:40.2) earned him the AEC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week award on September 21 and October 19.
The complete results of the
2026 AEC Men's Cross Country Pre-Championship Poll are listed below and available by using the provided links.
2026 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Cross Country Pre-Championship Poll
| Rank. Team |
Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1. Immaculata University |
14 |
2 |
| 2. Gwynedd Mercy University |
13 |
2 |
| 3. Marymount University |
12 |
1 |
| 4. Pratt Institute |
7 |
|
| 5. Saint Elizabeth University |
4 |
|
