The Daemen University men's cross country team secured a second-place ranking in the 2026 East Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, announced recently. Defending ECC Most Outstanding Runner CJ Johnson received the title of Men's Preseason Runner of the Year. The Wildcats garnered one first-place vote and a total of 40 points, trailing behind Roberts Wesleyan University's 48 points. Johnson, a standout runner, is the first in Daemen's history to earn this preseason accolade.

By the Numbers
  • Daemen scored 40 points in the preseason poll, just 8 points behind Roberts Wesleyan's 48 points.
  • CJ Johnson placed first out of 67 runners at the ECC Championships with a time of 26:24.8.
State of Play
  • The Wildcats return four of their top five runners, including Johnson and Ethan Keating.
  • Daemen has finished second in the conference meet for four consecutive seasons.
What's Next

The Wildcats will kick off their season at the Doug Watts Open on September 5, followed by the ECC Championships on November 7 in Rochester.

Bottom Line

With a strong returning lineup and a top runner recognized, Daemen University is well-positioned to challenge for the ECC title this season.