ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has released their first preseason poll of the 2026-27 academic year, which is the 2026 SLIAC Men's Cross Country preseason poll. The Gorloks were picked to finish third in the league with 49 points, including one first-place vote. Greenville University was picked to win the conference with 62 points and seven first-place votes, while Principia College was selected second with 54 points and one first-place vote.

The Gorloks return eight runners from last year's squad, led by senior Simon Muthemba and senior Ethan Nieroda, who were both named First Team All-Conference in 2025. Senior Johnny Imboden and sophomore Brayden Halter also return after earning Second Team All-Conference honors last season. Muthemba, Nieroda, and Imboden were all named to the 2026 SLIAC Men's Cross Country Watch List and will look to lead a strong group of returners into the upcoming season. Other returning runners include seniors Jacob Hawkins and Micah Louvierre, along with sophomores Gabe Feaman and Tyler Mooney.

Head Coach Kyle Robinson welcomes two newcomers to the program for the upcoming season in freshmen Kevin Morales (St. Louis, Mo.) and Jayden Perry (Fort Campbell, Ky.). Morales joins the Gorloks from Affton High School, while Perry comes to Webster from Fort Campbell High School.

The Gorloks will open the 2026 season on September 5 at the Gabby Reuveni Invite, hosted by Washington University at the SIUE Cross Country Course in Edwardsville, Illinois. Webster will then compete in the Larry Young Invite on September 11 at Gan's Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri, before returning to St. Louis on September 18 for the Billiken Invite at Quail Creek Golf Club in St. Louis, Missouri.

Webster will make its first trip of the season to Louisville, Kentucky on October 3 to compete in the Louisville Classic at Tom Sawyer Park. The Gorloks will then travel to Peoria, Illinois on October 16 for the Bradley Pink Classic at Newman Golf Course.

The Gorloks will compete in the 2026 SLIAC Championships on October 31 at Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky, hosted by Spalding University. Webster will then compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship on November 14 at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Illinois, hosted by Augustana College.