MIAA Releases 2025 Preseason Cross Country Coaches Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Heading into the 2025 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. 29, by the conference office.
 
The Mules received 69 points in the poll, one spot behind Missouri Southern, which received 79 points in fifth place. Northwest Missouri earned the top spot, garnering 118 points overall, including 10 first-place votes, followed by Pittsburg State (111 points), Nebraska Kearney (95 points), and Washburn (91 points).
 
Rounding out the men's poll is Missouri Western (63 points) in seventh place, followed by Fort Hays State (59 points), Rogers State (42 points), Emporia State (32 points), Newman (22 points), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (12 points).

On the women's side, the Jens received 60 points overall in ninth place, followed by Missouri Western (49 points), Arkansas-Fort Smith (35 points), Newman (27 points), and Central Oklahoma (15 points).
 
Pittsburg State earned the number one spot with 138 points, taking eight of the 13 possible votes while Rogers State (124 points), Fort Hays State (111 points), Nebraska Kearney (108 points), and Rogers State (108 points) round out the top five.
 
The Mules and Jennies open their seasons on Friday, Sept. 5, at the SBU Bearcat Invitational beginning at 9:00 a.m. from the Bolivar Golf Course in Bolivar, Mo., under first-year head coach Collin Nurenberg.
 
2025 MIAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Northwest Missouri [10] – 118 points
2. Pittsburg State [2] – 111 points
3. Nebraska Kearney – 95 points
4. Washburn – 91 points
5. Missouri Southern – 79 points
6. Central Missouri – 69 points
7. Missouri Western – 63 points
8. Fort Hays State – 59 points
9. Rogers State – 42 points
10. Emporia State – 32 points
11. Newman – 22 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 12 points
[#] - Number of First Place Votes
 
2025 MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [8] – 138 points
2. Rogers State [3] – 124 points
3. Fort Hays State – 111 points
T4. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 108 points
T4. Northwest Missouri – 108 points
6. Missouri Southern [1] – 94 points
7. Washburn – 83 points
8. Emporia State – 62 points
9. Central Missouri – 60 points
10. Missouri Western – 49 points
11. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 35 points
12. Newman – 27 points
13. Central Oklahoma – 15 points 
[#] - Number of First Place Votes