The Dordt University men's cross country team owns a No.18 ranking in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' poll announced by the national office late last week. 

• NAIA Press Release | PDF
• 2024 Dordt Results and Stats | 

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.
• the Defenders accounted for 219 points, well ahead of both Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and Montreat (N.C.) who are tied for 19th
• the Defenders have been ranked in the top 25 for 45 consecutive polls, dating back to the first poll of the 2018 season
  • this is currently the fifth longest streak in the NAIA
  • during this streak, Dordt has held a spot within the top 10 in 24 polls
  • Dordt's highest ranking (No.1) happened at the end of the 2022 season when they won the national title
  • the next longest streak of being ranked in the top 25 is Indiana Wesleyan (51) while The Master's owns the longest streak (129)
• The Master's (Calif.) holds the top spot in the preseason coaches poll with 496 points; the Mustangs finished fourth at the 2024 national championship
• Milligan (Tenn.), Taylor (Ind.), Cumberlands (Ky.) and Marian (Ind.) round out the top five
• Dordt, along with Doane (#14), represent the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the top 25
• the Defenders were picked first in the GPAC preseason coaches' poll
• Dordt returns eight of its top 10 runners from a 2024 team that won the GPAC title for the seventh straight year
• Dordt has qualified for the NAIA National Championship seven consecutive years (since 2018)
• the Defenders won the national title in 2022
• Dordt placed 25th 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