ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona women's cross country team was picked to finish third in the 2026 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) preseason coaches' poll, it was announced on Tuesday morning. The Broncos received 142 points, trailing only Chico State and Stanislaus State.
 
Chico State collected 12 first-place votes and 168 points to claim the top spot, while Stanislaus State received the remaining first-place vote and 153 points.
 
"We have a very talented and motivated group," said ninth-year head coach Chris Bradford. "We return a number of athletes with significant postseason experience, and they are working hard to build off the success we have had over the past few seasons. They put in a great summer of work."
 
CCAA Preseason Poll
1. Chico State – 168 pts (12)
2. Stanislaus State – 153 pts (1)
3. Cal Poly Pomona – 142 pts
4. Cal State San Marcos – 124 pts
5. Fresno Pacific – 97 pts
6. Cal State Monterey Bay – 92 pts
7. Cal State East Bay – 91 pts
8. Cal Poly Humboldt – 89 pts
9. Cal State San Bernardino – 76 pts
10. San Francisco State – 58 pts
11. UC Merced – 46 pts
12. Cal State LA – 31 pts
13. Cal State Dominguez Hills – 16 pts
 
Cal Poly Pomona returns five members of the lineup that placed 16th at the 2025 NCAA Division II Championships, tying the program's best national finish in the past 40 years. Alondra Arias, Jade Kingston, Miranda Palacios, Galilea Jimenez and Chloe Alchin all competed for the Broncos at nationals last season, helping CPP make its first team appearance at the championship meet since 2019. Jimenez, Arias, and Palacios each earned USTFCCCA All-West Region honors with Top 25 finishes in Monmouth, Oregon last fall. 
 
"Having multiple athletes who have raced at the NCAA Championships brings a certain confidence to the team," Bradford said. "Their experience helps shape our team culture and direct our goals for the season."
 
Bradford enters his ninth season as head coach and 10th year with the program. He is joined by associate head coach Wes Ashford, who begins his 13th season at Cal Poly Pomona and ninth in his current role. Since Bradford took over the program in 2017, women's cross country has placed ahead of 582 schools in races while only finishing behind 244, good for a .705 winning percentage.
 
CPP will also look for several younger contributors to its postseason lineup. Bradford identified Natalie Conde, Emily Conde, Ali Holtzen, Ava Holtzen, Cassidy Misuraca and Sophia Ebiner as athletes to watch this fall.
 
"We are hoping there will be a number of impactful newcomers or new names in our postseason lineup," Bradford said. "We are going to focus on growing and getting better each day. This is an extra-long season with the NCAA Championships taking place in December, so we have talked a lot about improving today and not looking too far ahead. Hard work, patience and mental preparation will help us get where we want to be this season."
 
The Broncos open the campaign Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Coyote Challenge in San Bernardino. CPP will also compete at the UCR Invitational, Cougar Challenge and NCAA Division II Pre-Nationals before hosting the Cal Poly Pomona Invitational on Oct. 24. This meet will mark the first home race for CPP since 2004, when they hosted the CCAA Championships.
 
The postseason begins Nov. 7 when the Broncos return to San Bernardino for the CCAA Championships. The NCAA West Regional is scheduled for Nov. 21 in Sacramento, followed by the NCAA Division II Championships on Dec. 4 in Lawrence, Kansas.
 
To view the full 2026 schedule, click HERE.