KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Heading into 2024 cross country season, the Central Missouri Mules are picked sixth, while the Jennies check in the ninth spot according to the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll announced on Friday, Aug. 30, by the conference office.
 
The Mules received 71 points in the poll behind Nebraska-Kearney who rounds out the top five with 86 points. Pittsburg State earned the top spot garnering 113 points overall including seven first-place votes followed by Northwest Missouri (110 points, four first-place votes), Washburn (93 points), and Missouri Southern (91 points, one first-place vote).
 
Rounding out the men's poll is Emporia State (56 points) in seventh place, followed by Fort Hays State (54 points), Missouri Western (49 points), Newman (30 points), Rogers State (25 points), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (14 points).
 
On the women's side, the Jens received 54 points overall, followed by Newman (47 points), Emporia State (42 points), Arkansas-Fort Smith (21 points), and Central Oklahoma (19 points).
 
Pittsburg State earned the number one spot with 143 points taking 11 of the 13 possible votes, followed by Missouri Southern (128 points), Fort Hays State (114 points), Nebraska-Kearney (108 points), and Rogers State (99 points – one first-place vote) round out the top five.
 
The Mules and Jennies begin the 2024 campaign on Friday, Sept. 6, as they head to Bolivar, Mo. for the SBU Invitational beginning at 5:30 p.m. from the Bolivar Golf Course.

2024 MIAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [7] – 113 points
2. Northwest Missouri [4] – 110 points
3. Washburn – 93 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 91 points 
5. Nebraska Kearney – 86 points
6. Central Missouri – 71 points
7. Emporia State – 56 points
8. Fort Hays State – 54 points
9. Missouri Western – 49 points
10. Newman – 30 points
11. Rogers State – 25 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 14 points 
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes

2024 MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [11] – 143 points
2. Missouri Southern – 128 points
3. Fort Hays State – 114 points
4. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 108 points
5. Rogers State [1] – 99 points
6. Northwest Missouri – 87 points 
T7. Missouri Western – 76 points
T7. Washburn – 76 points
9. Central Missouri – 54 points
10. Newman – 47 points
11. Emporia State – 42 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 21 points
13. Central Oklahoma – 19 points