2025 NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Preseason
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Just one point separated Taylor (Ind.) from the team title in last year’s NAIA Cross Country Championships, but the Trojans are No. 1 in the preseason edition of the NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, which was released on Thursday by the NAIA National Office.
NAIA — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Taylor (Ind.)
Taylor (Ind.)
2
Milligan (Tenn.)
Milligan (Tenn.)
3
The Master's (Calif.)
The Master's (Calif.)
4
Cumberlands (Ky.)
Cumberlands (Ky.)
5
Saint Mary (Kan.)
Saint Mary (Kan.)
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
No. 1 Taylor (Ind.) – Led by the NAIA’s 2024 individual national champion and USTFCCCA Women’s Athlete of the Year Jaynie Halterman, the Trojans finished second at the 2024 NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Championship – by a point – and are the top-rated team in the Crossroads League in 2025. Three-time NAIA All-American Noel VanderWall also returns, edging Taylor into the top spot.
No. 2 Milligan (Tenn.) – Ellen-Mary Kaerney returns to lead the top-rated team in a tough Appalachian Athletic Conference, joined by returning All-Americans Alyssa Bearzi and Kirsten Geary. The Buffs finished fourth at the 2024 NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Championship, in Columbia, Mo.
No. 3 The Master’s (Calif.) – Looking to defend first place at last season’s championship, the 2024 NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Champion Mustangs are the top-rated team in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference.
No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.) – A year after recording their best performance at the national championship in program history, the Patriots bring back a solid core of returners and a load of new talent, vaulting UC atop the Mid-South Conference preseason rating for the 2025 season.
No. 5 Saint Mary (Kan.) – The Spires were third at last season’s national championship in Columbia, brining back Josie Tyrell, who finished 31st at last year’s championship. USM has won eight of the last 11 KCAC women’s cross country titles, including five consecutive crowns.
Rounding out the top-10 are No. 6 Marian (Ind.), No. 7 Grace (Ind.), No. 8 SCAD Savannah (Ga.), No. 9 Dordt (Iowa) and No. 10 Montreat (N.C.).
The 2025 NAIA Cross Country Championships are scheduled to be held Friday, November 21, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida. This will be the second time in the past four years that the meet will be held in the Sunshine State.
