FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. --  For the first time in conference history, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has released a preseason poll for women’s cross country. Calvin University earned the top spot in the inaugural rankings with 11 points and five first-place votes.

Trine University placed second with 15 points and three first-place votes, while Hope College followed in third with 21 points and one first-place nod. Kalamazoo, Alma, Saint Mary’s, Albion, Adrian, and Olivet rounded out the poll.

1. Calvin University 11 points (5 first-place votes)

Calvin looks to build on its championship success after a historic 2024 campaign. The Knights earned their first outright MIAA title in a decade, then followed with a runner-up finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, missing first place by just three points. At the NCAA Championships, Calvin placed 15th nationally with 433 points.

Head coach Nicole Kramer, entering her fourth season at the helm and named the 2024 MIAA Coach of the Year, leads a roster anchored by standout veterans. Senior Sophie Bull, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, returns after finishing second at the 2024 MIAA Championships in 21:09.7. She went on to earn All-Region with a third-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional (21:42.79) and capped her season as an All-American, finishing 28th at nationals in 21:37.2. Junior Hailey Erickson, also a two-time All-MIAA selection, placed eighth at the MIAA Championships (22:15.9), added an All-Region performance with a 22nd-place finish at the regional meet (22:43.62), and raced to a 22:57.4 mark at the NCAA Championships. Sophomore Alexis Ball rounds out Calvin’s All-MIAA returners, having placed 15th in her first conference championship (23:09.5).

2. Trine University – 15 points (3 first-place votes)

Trine is poised for another strong season after finishing second at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 44 points, third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 109 points, and 28th at the NCAA Championships with 613 points.

The Thunder return three First Team All-MIAA runners who bring national-level experience. Senior Bailey Puckett, a two-time All-MIAA selection, placed fifth at the 2024 conference meet (21:51.3), added All-Region honors with a 12th-place finish at regionals (22:20.04), and closed her year with an 80th-place effort at the NCAA Championships (22:13.5). Senior Sidney Swick followed with a sixth-place finish at the league meet (21:57.0), claimed All-Region honors with an 11th-place showing at regionals (22:13.56), and placed 70th nationally (22:09.1). Senior Eleanor Young, the third First Team All-MIAA returner, finished seventh at the MIAA Championships (22:12.9), earned All-Region with a 21st-place effort at the Great Lakes Regional (22:42.45), and completed the NCAA Championships in 23:12.7. Graduate student Chloe Goodrich adds further experience after earning Second Team All-MIAA recognition with a ninth-place finish at the league meet (22:21.7), an All-Region effort at 25th (22:47.67), and a 23:00.5 time at nationals.

3. Hope College – 21 points (1 first-place vote)

Hope finished fourth at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 92 points before placing 13th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 343 points.

The Flying Dutch return Second Team All-MIAA honoree Molly Durow, a senior and two-time all-league runner who placed 16th at last year’s MIAA Championships (23:13.2) before clocking 23:36.59 at regionals. Additional key contributors include junior Annika Sytsma, who earned a top-20 finish at the conference meet (23:24.5), sophomore Maddie VandeBunte, who turned in a strong debut with a 21st-place finish at the MIAA Championships (23:29.4), and junior Amanda Markham, who finished close behind in 22nd (23:29.5).

4. Kalamazoo College – 29 points

Kalamazoo put together a breakout year in 2024, placing third at the MIAA Championships with 73 points and earning a top-10 regional finish with an eighth-place effort at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional (232 points).

The Hornets return two Second Team All-MIAA runners from last season. Sophomore Ava King made a statement in her first collegiate conference race by placing 10th at the league meet (22:29.4) and adding All-Region honors with a 24th-place finish at regionals (22:46.61). Fellow sophomore Nora O’Leary was close behind, placing 11th in her MIAA debut (22:34.9) before finishing 50th at regionals (23:19.79). Both runners will be key pieces in Kalamazoo’s push to stay among the top three.

5. Alma College – 40 points

Alma finished sixth at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 178 points and 23rd at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 660 points.

The Scots return several developing runners led by junior Chloe Colton, who placed 27th at the 2024 league meet (23:40.3). Sophomore Melanie Werner also gained valuable experience in her first collegiate MIAA race, finishing 30th (23:53.0), while junior Lauren Brawt contributed a 37th-place finish (24:24.7).

6. Saint Mary’s College – 41 points

Saint Mary’s earned a fifth-place finish at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 170 points and placed 25th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 666 points.

The Belles are led by junior Jordan Siminski, who paced the team at the MIAA Championships with a 29th-place finish (23:51.6). Sophomore Allie Glendening followed closely behind in 34th (24:05.9), while junior Cecilia Conrad added a 35th-place showing (24:07.4).

7. Albion College – 53 points

Albion placed seventh at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 196 points and 27th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 795 points.

The Britons return senior leaders LaRaya Warnsley and Serena Arnold, who both contributed at the 2024 MIAA Championships. Warnsley clocked 26:17.7 in the 2024 league race, while Arnold was just a step behind at 26:20.4. Both will aim to set the tone for Albion’s developing roster.

8. Adrian College – 56 points

Adrian finished eighth at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 248 points before placing 34th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 1,022 points.

The Bulldogs return sophomore Olivia Hyatt, who gained experience in her first collegiate conference race with a 26:03.4 performance. Senior Emma Frost adds veteran leadership after clocking 26:11.5 at the 2024 MIAA Championships.

9. The University of Olivet – 58 points

Olivet rounded out the 2024 MIAA standings with a ninth-place finish at the league meet (254 points) and a 37th-place showing at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional (1064 points).

The Comets will look to junior Aubrey Connelly, who led the team at the MIAA Championships with a 25:52.7 finish, and senior Jamie Stiver, who completed the race in 29:37.9, to anchor their lineup heading into 2025.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 MIAA Women’s Cross Country Championships will be hosted by The University of Olivet at Broadway Acres Golf Course in Charlotte, Michigan, on Saturday, November 1. The NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional will follow on Saturday, November 15, in Louisville, Kentucky, before the national season culminates at the NCAA Division III Championships at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Saturday, November 22.