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Dordt University

Corinne Braun, XC from 2024

Women's Cross Country by the Dordt University Athletic Communications office

Defenders Ranked Ninth In Preseason Poll

The Dordt University women's cross country team begins the season ranked ninth in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll released by the national office late last week. 

Notes:

  • the rating is compiled by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and unaffiliated groupings
  • the Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each rater rates the best teams; a team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place, 28 for third-place and so on through the list.
  • Dordt totaled 364 points, five ahead of No.10 Montreat (N.C.) and 16 in back of SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
  • the Defenders have been ranked in the top 25 for an NAIA-best 97 consecutive polls, a streak that began with the first rating of the 2012 season
    • during the streak, Dordt has held a spot within the top 10 in 67 polls
    • Dordt's highest ranking (No.2) happened five times during the 2014 season
    • the next longest streak of being ranked in the top 25 is Taylor (88 straight polls)
  • Taylor (Ind.) holds down the top spot in the initial ranking with 507 points; the Trojans finished second at the 2024 NAIA National Championship
  • Milligan (Tenn.) is a close second with 488 points while defending national champion The Master's (Calif.) is third with 475 points
  • Dordt is the lone team from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the top 25 and one of three conference teams recognized in the poll (College of Saint Mary and Doane received votes)
  • the Defenders were picked first in the GPAC preseason coaches' poll
  • Dordt returns its top 10 runners from a 2024 team that won the GPAC title for the fifth straight year
  • the Defenders have won seven of the last eight conference titles, 11 of the last 13
  • Dordt has qualified for the NAIA National Championship 14 consecutive years (since 2011)
  • the Defenders have finished among the top 10 at the national championship eight times
  • Dordt placed 11th at the 2024 NAIA Championship
  • the Defenders are coached by Nate Wolf, who is in his 11th year as head coach
  • Dordt opens its 2025 season at home on Sept. 13 for the Sunflower Open
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