FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Point Park was picked fourth in the Mountain East Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll, the league office announced on Wednesday.

The Pioneers finished sixth in last season's MEC Cross Country Championships, and the team returns three of its top-five finishers from the 2025 championships: Elijah Bechdel, Pedro Lemos and Chase Bowen.

Reigning MEC Champion Charleston was picked to finish first, earning 10 of the 12 first-place votes. Davis & Elkins earned two first-place votes and was tabbed to finish in second place. 

Charleston concluded its 2025 season at the NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin where it finished 24th overall. Davis & Elkins, who finished second in the preseason poll, also concluded its season at the NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championships, where it placed 30th.  

Concord was slated in third, and Point Park was followed by Glenville State, West Liberty, West Virginia Wesleyan, MEC-newcomer Shawnee State, Frostburg State, Fairmont State, Wheeling and West Virginia State.

The Pioneers open up their 2026 season on Sept. 3 in the West Liberty Invitational in Bethany, W.Va. Point Park will run a 6K at 6 p.m.