Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's cross country team racked up 108 points and a first place vote in the 2021 MIAA preseason coaches' poll.
 
The league's 13 head coaches vote on the makeup of the poll and cannot vote for their own team.
 
UNK was one of five schools between 108-128 points and one of four to receive a first place vote. Just ahead of the Lopers are Pittsburg State (128; six first place), Central Missouri (121; two), Missouri Southern (116) and Washburn (112; three). Northwest Missouri (95) wasn't too far behind the 100-point pack.
 
The veteran Lopers are led by redshirt seniors Maddie Bach (Cedar Rapids, Ia.), Destiny Reinke (Imperial) and Zoe Ritz (Comstock) and three redshirt juniors. In 2019, UNK was fourth at the MIAA Championships with Bach, Reinke and Ritz all placing in the top 10. Reinke also earned All-Central Region honors that fall and made the All-National Invite team last November.
 
Kearney starts the season at home next Friday night at Meadowlark Hills G.C. The competition will consist of Fort Hays State, Peru State and Northwest Kansas Tech. The women will run a 4k beginning at 7 p.m. On Oct. 23 UNK hosts the MIAA Championships at Kearney C.C.