Hooper, Kletz Earn ASUN Preseason Runner of the Year Honors; Bisons Top Preseason Polls
8/28/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb Cross Country swept the Atlantic Sun Conference's top preseason individual honors, as Max Hooper and Harley Kletz were named the ASUN Preseason Men's and Women's Runners of the Year, respectively, while both Bison squads were selected to finish first in the league's preseason coaches polls.
Hooper enters the 2026 season as the conference's preseason favorite on the men's side, earning ASUN Preseason Men's Runner of the Year honors. Kletz joined him in receiving the league's top preseason recognition, earning ASUN Preseason Women's Runner of the Year honors to complete a Lipscomb sweep.
The Lipscomb men's squad claimed the top spot in the ASUN Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll with 62 points and seven of the eight available first-place votes. North Florida followed in second with 56 points, while Bellarmine rounded out the top three with 44.
On the women's side, the Bisons were the unanimous preseason favorite, collecting all eight first-place votes and 64 total points. North Florida was picked second with 56 points, followed by FGCU with 46.
The preseason recognition comes as the Lipscomb women look to continue their run atop the conference after capturing their fourth consecutive ASUN Cross Country Championship in 2025.
