2020 NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Week 1
Nothing stayed the same in the newest NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, as released by the NAIA National Office on Thursday.
Each and every team moved spots between the preseason and Week 1.
NAIA — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Taylor (Ind.)
Taylor (Ind.)
2
St. Francis (Ill.)
St. Francis (Ill.)
3
Huntington (Ind.)
Huntington (Ind.)
4
Dordt (Iowa)
Dordt (Iowa)
5
Milligan (Tenn.)
Milligan (Tenn.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Taylor (Ind.) is the new No. 1 team in the nation after romping to a 33-point victory at the Midwest XC Challenge this past weekend. Two Trojans finished in the top-5 – Sarah Harden (second) and Olivia Schroeder (fifth) – and four others ended up in the top-25.
St. Francis (Ill.) jumped two spots from No. 4 to No. 2 following a runner-up finish at the Midwest XC Challenge. The Saints were the best of the rest as they put three runners in the top-25, led by Daly Galloway in third.
Huntington (Ind.) is up to No. 3 after starting the season ranked No. 7. The Foresters have a bona fide low stick in Emma Wilson, who recently captured her third consecutive victory against talented competition. Wilson broke a course record at the TUXC Farm, two weeks after cruising to a big win at the NAIA Seminole Valley Stampede.
Fourth-ranked Dordt (Iowa) is off to a strong start in the fall season. The Defenders won back-to-back team titles, beginning at the Briar Cliff Invitational and most recently at the Mount Mary Invitational.
Milligan (Tenn.) rounds out the top-5 this week after jumping three spots from No. 8. The Lady Buffs most recently won the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Preview two weeks ago.
Here are the rest of the top-10 teams in Week 1: No. 6 Cornerstone (Mich.), No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 8 The Master’s (Calif.), No. 9 Carroll (Mont.) and No. 10 Saint Mary (Kan.).
