The Dordt University women's cross country team is ranked third in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll released by the national office on August 20.

• NAIA Press Release | PDF
• 2025 Dordt Results and Stats | 
• 2026 Schedule | 

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 532 points, just one point behind No.2 Milligan (Tenn.) and 28 points in front of No.4 College of Idaho
• the Defenders have been ranked in the top 25 for an NAIA-best 103 consecutive polls, a streak that began during the 2011 season
  • during the streak, Dordt has held a spot within the top 10 in 73 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 (93 straight polls)
• Taylor (Ind.), the defending national champion, opens the 2026 season with the No.1 ranking 
  • the Trojans totaled 16 of 20 first place votes and 557 points
• four teams, Taylor (16), Milligan (1), Dordt (2) and College of Idaho (1), earned at least one first place vote
• Dordt is the lone team from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the top 25 and one of two conference teams recognized in the poll (Morningside received votes)
• Dordt returns seven of its top 10 runners from a 2025 team that won the GPAC title for the sixth straight year
  • the Defenders return seven runners who earned all-conference honors
  • the Defenders return three All-Americans, Addy Liston, Addy Crow and Joy Koole, from the 2025 season
• the Defenders have won eight of the last nine conference titles, 12 of the last 14
• Dordt has qualified for the NAIA National Championship 15 consecutive years (since 2011)
• the Defenders have finished among the top 10 at the national championship nine times
• Dordt placed third at the 2025 NAIA Championship
• the Defenders are coached by Nate Wolf, who is in his 12th year as head coach
• Dordt opens its 2026 season at home on Sept. 12 for the Sunflower Open, presented by Rankin / Veenstra Wealth Management