BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Point Park women's cross country team checked-in at No. 6 in the 2025 Mountain East Conference Preseason Poll, the league office announced on Thursday afternoon.

Led by the 2024 MEC Runner and Freshman of the Year Cassondra O'Connor, the Pioneers finished third at last fall's MEC Cross Country Championships. O'Connor turned in three first-place finishes a season ago, while finishing second in the MEC championship race.

The University of Charleston women's cross country team is the Mountain East Conference preseason favorite. The Golden Eagles received eight of 11 possible first-place votes from conference head coaches. 

Davis and Elkins, the defending champion, received three first-place votes and finished second in the MEC preseason poll. 

After UC (98 points) and Davis & Elkins (90 points) atop the preseason poll, West Virginia Wesleyan is third with 85 points. Concord (73 points) and Frostburg State (59) round out the top five. 

The rest of the poll has Point Park at sixth, followed by West Liberty, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Wheeling and West Virginia State. 

The 2025 PPU women's cross country season is set to begin Thursday, Sept. 4 at the West Liberty Invitational. The 2025 MEC Championships will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, on the Crispin Golf Course at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia.