PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Western Connecticut State University men's and women's cross country teams will open the 2026 season in Vermont at the Castleton Invitational on Saturday, September 5.  The WestConm men finished seventh in the Little East Conference (LEC) Championship Meet and 23rd in the NCAA Division III Championship Meet last season.  Both squads are coached by Ryan Budd (3rd Season).  The defending champion Keene State College Owls received 63 points and seven first-place votes in both the men's and women's rankings to rank No. 1 in both 2026 LEC Cross Country Pre-Season Poll.  WestConn garnered 14 votes to edge Casteton for eighth in the men's poll and had 12 votes in the women's poll.  The Wolves will also compete in invitational meets at Trinity College, UMass Dartmouth, Keene State, and Connecticut College this fall.  The LEC Championships will be held at Castleton on Halloween and the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships will take place at Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut on November 14.