2025 NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll – Preseason
NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is back.
Here is the 2025 preseason edition of the NCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday. USTFCCCA polls and rankings are presented by AthleticNET.
NCAA Division II — Women's Cross Country
This Week's National Top Five
1
Adams State
Adams State
2
West Texas A&M
West Texas A&M
3
Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State
4
Colo. School of Mines
Colo. School of Mines
5
Wingate
Wingate
Cross Country Polls & Rankings
Adams State is going to do Adams State things. For the fourth straight year, the Grizzlies have been voted No. 1 – and for good measure. Since 2018, there’s only been a single year where Adams State wasn’t named the top team. The result? Nationals champions of course. Tristian Spence (11th), Ava O’Connor (19th), and Katie Hughes (56th) hold the key to their title hopes this time. Three veterans from an absolutely dominant performance where the Grizzlies bested the rest of the field by 66 points. It’s up to young talent to fill in the rest as somehow, someway, someone always does.
The No. 2 spot belongs to West Texas A&M, whose chances of winning it all have never looked better. Following the best finish in program history, runner-up at the 2024 NCAA Championships, the Buffs return to a picture perfect scenario. Down just two members – Julie Lafare (17th), Naomi Addo (21st) – Eliette Chaput (30th), Abigail Abugire (53rd), and Sarah Koomson (2024 Lone Star Conference champion) are ready to roll. If Koomson manages to return to her freshman form, a top-15 finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships, the Buffs stock will only continue to boom.
Lauren Kiley is back, and so is Grand Valley State. The Lakers possess the star of stars when it comes to Division II cross country, the reigning individual national champion. Kiley’s momentum doesn’t seem to have slowed down at all either, securing a national title in the indoor 3k back in March. Accompanying her this season is All-American Allie Arnsman (16th). Beyond that, four of the other five individuals that made up the 2024 roster return, with a stellar freshman class waiting to step up.
Hint: this team boasts a sub-17 5k average on the track. Answer: No. 4 Colo. School of Mines. The alternative to their adversaries above them, the Orediggers will be without Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge. Despite that hit at the front, the two through six spots remain the same. The last time Colo. School of Mines finished outside the top-5, Nintendo had just released the original Switch worldwide. That’s 2017 for those wondering.
For the first time in program history Wingate is inside the preseason top-5. Twice the Bulldogs were stuck at sixth. With a reinvigorated roster, they said no more! Wingate will turn to Firdaouss Hriche to lead the charge. As a freshman, Hirche (47th) just missed out on All-American honors at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
No. 6 CSU-Pueblo, No. 7 UC-Colorado Springs, No. 8 Augustana (S.D.), No. 9 Lewis, and No. 10 Cedarville round out the top-ten teams.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 22, because that’s when the 2025 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships will be held at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
