WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Otterbein, under first-year head coach Eric Fox, has been picked by the league's coaches to win the 2026 Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country title.

The Cardinals collected 61 points and five of the nine available first-place votes in the preseason poll. Ohio Northern was picked second with 58 points and three first-place votes, while Mount Union earned third with 52 points and one first-place vote. Baldwin Wallace followed in fourth with 43 points, and Capital rounded out the top five with 34 points. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams.

Last season, Otterbein turned in an impressive showing, finishing second overall at the 2025 OAC Championship, with five individuals earning All-OAC recognition.

The Cardinals open their season by hosting the Otterbein Invitational on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.

2026 OAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll