The Dordt University women's cross country team remains No.1 in the latest edition of the NAIA Coaches' poll announced by the national office. 

• NAIA Press Release | PDF

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
• this is the third poll of the regular season, fourth overall this season (preseason)
• Dordt is No.1 for the second consecutive poll and pushed its point total to 559 points, 10 more than last time
• the Defenders earned 18 of the 20 possible first place votes; six more than the previous poll
• Dordt has been ranked among the top three teams in every poll this season 
  • #3 - preseason
  • #2 - Sept. 24
  • #1 - Oct.8 and 15
• College of Idaho is ranked second with 540 points and earned the final two first place votes
• Milligan, ranked No.1 earlier this season, is third in this rating with 517 points
• Cornerstone (Mich.) and St.Francis (Ill.) round out the top five
• Dordt is one of three teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the top 25
  • College of Saint Mary - 15
  • Doane - 17
• one additional GPAC team, Concordia, received votes
• the Defenders have been ranked in the top 25 for an NAIA-best 107 consecutive polls, dating back to the 2011 season
  • this is the longest streak in the NAIA
• Dordt has been ranked among the top 10 teams in 26 straight polls (dating back to Sept.22, 2022)
• the Defenders have held a top 10 ranking in 76 of the 106 polls during their current streak
• Dordt finished among the top three teams in all three meets this season
  • they have won two meets; Sunflower Open and Holiday Inn Express Classic
  • the Defenders have been the top NAIA team in all three meets
• Joy Koole has been the top individual runner for the Defenders in all three meets
  • Koole has won two meets and has been named the NAIA Runner of the Week twice this season
• Dordt will compete in the Blazing Tiger Classic this weekend, the final meet of the regular season