2013 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Top 25

Defending national champion British Columbia claims first preseason No. 1 in school history
August 28, 2013
By: Sam Knehans, Communications and Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Defending national champion British Columbia remains atop the rankings in the 2013 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 poll, the national office announced Wednesday. British Columbia’s selection—with 20 first place votes and 591 total points—gives the Thunderbirds three-straight No. 1 rankings for the first time in school history.

The Thunderbirds return four of their top five runners, three of whom placed in the top 30 at the 2012 NAIA Cross Country National Championships and earned All-America honors: Maria Bernard (6th), Jackie Regan (7th) and Amelie De Fenoyl (27th).

College of Idaho, who returns 2012 individual titlist Hillary Holt, received the other first place vote and accumulated 571 total points en route to the No. 2 ranking. The Yotes return their top three runners in Holt, Sarah Johnson (9th) and Sora Klopfenstein (10th), all of whom finished in the top 10 at the 2012 national championship and earned All-America honors.

No. 3 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) with 548 points, No. 4 Cal State San Marcos with 534 points and No. 5 Carroll (Mont.) with 515 points round out the top five. Rhianna Grossman, for Carroll, and Kathryn Dean, for Olivet Nazarene, are the returning All-Americans for these squads after finishing 22nd and 29th, respectively, at the 2012 national championship.

No. 16 Southern Oregon, No. 22 Taylor (Ind.) and No. 23 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) were newcomers to the Top 25 after all receiving votes in the 2012 postseason poll. Each school was ranked among the Top 25 in multiple polls last season. Eastern Oregon, St. Ambrose (Iowa) and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) dropped out of the Top 25.

Within the poll, No. 10 The Master’s (Calif.) made the largest jump, moving up 15 spots, while Concordia (Calif.) fell 13 spots, landing at No. 24.

Thirteen conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups are represented in the Preseason Top 25, led by four from the Golden State Athletic Conference—The Master’s, No. 12 Biola (Calif.), No. 17 Westmont (Calif.), and Concordia (Calif.)—and four from the Cascade Collegiate Conference—College of Idaho, No. 13 Northwest Christian (Ore.), Southern Oregon, and No. 20 Concordia (Ore.).

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. For the entire 2013 Coaches' Top 25 Poll schedule, click here.

The first regular-season Top 25 Poll will be announced Sept. 18.

NOTES: (All information dates back to 1999) No. 1 British Columbia is trying to become just the third school in NAIA history to begin the season ranked No. 1 and go on to win the national championship... Former member Simon Fraser (B.C.) accomplished this in 2004, 05, 06 and 07 and No. 4 Cal State San Marcos did so in 2011... Since 1999, only two programs have been ranked No. 1 for an entire season: Simon Fraser in 2005, 06, and 07 and Northwest (Wash.) in 2003... Last year’s preseason No. 1, Cal State San Marcos, was No. 1 in six polls throughout the season, ended the 2012 season at No. 4 and also opens the 2013 season at No. 4… No. 15 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) has been ranked among the Top 25 in 115 consecutive polls, dating back to Sept. 21, 2001... During that streak Lewis-Clark State has never been ranked among the top five teams… Simon Fraser has the most No. 1 rankings with 40… Following Simon Fraser are Azusa Pacific (Calif.) and Cedarville (Ohio) with 18 each… Overall, 11 different programs have claimed the No. 1 spot in the poll… British Columbia has previously been ranked No. 1 on just four occasions, all coming last season… Two teams held the No. 1 ranking in 2012: British Columbia and Cal State San Marcos.

2013 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll (Aug. 28)

RANK LAST TIME^ SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) TOTAL POINTS
1 1 British Columbia (20) 591
2 2 College of Idaho (1) 571
3 3 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 548
4 4 Cal State San Marcos 534
5 5 Carroll (Mont.) 515
6 6 Oklahoma Baptist 493
7 7 Aquinas (Mich.) 471
8 9 Dordt (Iowa) 453
9 12 St. Francis (Ill.) 432
10 25 The Master's (Calif.) 421
11 21 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 380
12 10 Biola (Calif.) 374
13 14 Northwest Christian (Ore.) 372
14 15 Cornerstone (Mich.) 336
15 8 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 324
16 RV Southern Oregon 276
17 18 Westmont (Calif.) 270
18 20 Huntington (Ind.) 262
19 19 Milligan (Tenn.) 250
20 16 Concordia (Ore.) 181
21 17 Park (Mo.) 165
22 RV Taylor (Ind.) 161
23 RV SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 147
24 11 Concordia (Calif.) 140
25 24 Shawnee State (Ohio) 129



Others Receiving Votes: St. Ambrose (Iowa) 112; Wayland Baptist (Texas) 108; Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 97; Eastern Oregon 57; Indiana Wesleyan 56; Cumberlands (Ky.) 46; Doane (Neb.) 38; Texas Wesleyan 31; Central Methodist (Mo.) 26; Saint Xavier (Ill.) 25; Friends (Kan.) 19; Arizona Christian 3; Mount Mercy (Iowa) 3.

^ 2012 NAIA Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 Poll