UNK Tied for Fourth in MIAA Poll, Receives First Place Vote

Women's Cross Country 8/29/2025 11:56:00 AM

UNK Tied for Fourth in MIAA Poll, Receives First Place Vote

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its preseason rankings for the 2025 women's cross country season.

MIAA head coaches picked the Gorillas of Pittsburg State as their favorites to take home the conference crown for what would be the fourth consecutive season.

Pittsburg State received eight first-place votes and 138 points to top the 2025 MIAA women's cross country preseason coaches poll. The Gorillas have captured six of the last seven MIAA championship titles. After winning the 2024 championship, Pitt State also led the league at the 2024 NCAA Division II national championship, placing 19th overall.

Rogers State earned its highest ranking in the coaches' preseason poll since joining the league in 2019 with a second-place finish. The Hillcats totaled 124 points and three first-place votes from MIAA head coaches. Rogers State was the runner-up at the 2024 MIAA championship and went on to place 22nd in the nation at the Division II national championship.

Fort Hays State was picked third in the preseason poll with 111 points. The Tigers return the league's defending individual champion, Emily Diercks. The now senior from Hoxie, Kansas, won the 2024 MIAA title in 21:30.90 – a top 15 time in the championship's history.

Nebraska Kearney and Northwest Missouri tied for fourth in the preseason poll. The Lopers collected 108 with one first-place selection while the Bearcats also totaled 108 points to conclude the coaches' top five picks.

UNK returns 2024 All-MIAA honorees Ellla Buhlke (Central City), Reece Ewoldt (Blair) and Kassidy Stuckey (McCool Junction) to its lineup as well as juniors Noelle Abels (Omaha), Brynn Hirschfeld (York) and Charis Robinson (Olathe, Kan.). Buhlke also earned All-Region honors and qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championships. The Lopers begin the year next weekend at Mahoney State Park.

The complete results of the 2025 MIAA women's cross country preseason coaches' poll are listed below. The 2025 NCAA Division II cross country season officially kicks off next week with MIAA teams competing in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Pittsburg State University will host the 2025 MIAA men's and women's cross country championships, set for Saturday, October 25, at the Four Oaks Golf Course in Pittsburg, Kansas.

To view the 2025 schedules for all 13 MIAA women's cross country programs, visit theMIAA.com/wcrosscountry.

2025 MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [8] – 138 points
2. Rogers State [3] – 124 points
3. Fort Hays State – 111 points
T4. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 108 points
T4. Northwest Missouri – 108 points
6. Missouri Southern [1] – 94 points
7. Washburn – 83 points
8. Emporia State – 62 points
9. Central Missouri – 60 points
10. Missouri Western – 49 points
11. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 35 points
12. Newman – 27 points
13. Central Oklahoma – 15 points
[#] - Number of First Place Votes

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Players Mentioned

Kassidy Stuckey: Freshman

Reece Ewoldt: Freshman

Charis Robinson: Sophomore

Brynn Hirschfeld: Redshirt Sophomore

Noelle Abels: Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Kassidy Stuckey
: Freshman

Reece Ewoldt
: Freshman

Charis Robinson
: Sophomore

Brynn Hirschfeld
: Redshirt Sophomore

Noelle Abels
: Redshirt Sophomore