Cal State San Marcos Cougar Cross Country Enters Preseason Poll at No. 4.

CSUSM women near the top, as usual, after five consecutive Top-4 finishes at NAIA Nationals.
8/28/2013 3:08:00 PM


Ciera Stauffer (757) and Lauren Cortez (740) will look to lead the Cougars into the national title discussion.

NAIA Coaches' Preseason Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Cal State San Marcos women's cross country entered as the No. 4 ranked team in the Preseason NAIA Coaches' Poll released by the NAIA Wednesday. After a third place national finish in 2008, the Cougars went on to win NAIA National Titles from 2009-2011, and took fourth place in 2012.

CSUSM received 534 points from the panel of head coaches representing each NAIA conference. Defending Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) and NAIA National Champion British Columbia topped the poll with 591 points, and 20 of 21 first place votes. College of Idaho (571) and Olivet Nazarene (548) debuted in the poll at No. 2 and No. 3.

The Cougars will get a chance to dethrone No. 1 British Columbia twice in 2013, as they look to reclaim both the A.I.I. and NAIA championships. CSUSM won the A.I.I. title from 2008-2011, but fell 25 to 38 to the Thunderbirds last season.

The fourth-ranked Cougars are the topped ranked Californian team in the poll, ahead of The Master's (10), Biola (12), Westmont (17), and Concordia (24).

Cal State San Marcos returns five athlete from last year's team that finished fourth at Nationals, although British Columbia brings back all seven. However, the Cougars have several key additions they hope will turn the tables in their favor this season. For a full preview and overview of the CSUSM women's cross country team, please see the 2013 season preview.