The Dordt University women's cross country team held down the No.1 spot for the third consecutive NAIA Coaches' poll announced today by the national office.

This is the final edition of the national poll for the regular season with one more rating to be released after the conference championships and prior to the NAIA National Championship.

• 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 fourth poll of the regular season, fifth overall this season (preseason)
• this is the third consecutive poll the Defenders have earned the No.1 ranking
  • Dordt won its last meet, taking first at the Blazing Tiger Classic held last weekend at Mahoney State Park in Nebraska
• the Defenders earned 16 of the 20 possible first place votes and totaled 555 points
• Dordt has been ranked among the top three teams in every poll this season 
  • #3 - preseason
  • #2 - Sept. 24
  • #1 - Oct.8, 15 and 29
• College of Idaho is ranked second with 541 points and earned the final three first place votes
• Milligan, ranked No.1 earlier this season, is third in this rating with 512 points
• Cornerstone (Mich.) and St.Francis (Ill.) round out the top five
• the top six teams maintained their ranking from the last poll
• Dordt is one of two teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the top 25 and one of three recognized overall in the poll:
  • Doane - 25
  • College of Saint Mary - (RV)
• the Defenders have been ranked in the top 25 for an NAIA-best 108 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 27 straight polls (dating back to Sept.22, 2022)
• the Defenders have held a top 10 ranking in 77 of the 106 polls during their current streak
• Dordt finished among the top three teams in every meet this season
  • they have won three meets; Sunflower Open, Holiday Inn Express Classic and Blazing Tiger Classic
  • the Defenders have been the top NAIA team in every event this season
• Joy Koole has won two meets and has been named the NAIA Runner of the Week twice this season
• Dordt will compete in the GPAC Championship on Nov.7 at its home course