ST. PAUL – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2025 Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday with Crown College being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Complete poll
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Crown (4) |
34 |
| 2 |
UW-Superior (1) |
30 |
| 3 |
Northwestern (2) |
29 |
| 4 |
Martin Luther |
19 |
| 5 |
Bethany Lutheran |
16 |
| 6 |
Minnesota Morris |
12 |
| 7 |
North Central |
7 |
#1 Crown: 34 points
The Polars led the preseason poll with 34 points and four first-place votes from their conference competitors.
Crown finished second at the 2024 UMAC Cross Country Championships with 56 points. Ella Dufault is the reigning individual conference champion.
Head coach: Grant DeWitt | 3rd season
Top Returners
- Ella Dufault, Junior | 2024 UMAC XC Individual Champion |2023 First-team All-UMAC | 2024 First-team All-UMAC | 2024 Championships: 1st, 22:48, 1st team finisher|
- Ruth Brueckner, Sophomore | 2023 Second-team All-UMAC | 2024 Championships: 10th, 24:53, 2nd team finisher|
- Olivia Stanley, Sophomore | 2024 Second-team All-UMAC | 2024 Championships: 13, 25:31, 3rd team finisher|
#2 UW-Superior: 30 points
The Yellowjackets ranked second in the preseason poll with 30 points and received one first-place vote.
Head Coach: Glen Drexler | 16th Season |
Top Returners:
- Simone Stephens, So. | First-team All-UMAC | 2024 Championships: 3rd, 23:29.0, 1st team finisher |
- Lilley Smith, Jr. | Second-team All-UMAC | 2024 Championships: 12th, 25:16.0, 4th team finisher |
- Scarlett Vanderscheuren | 2024 Championships: 23rd, 26:56.7, 5th team finisher |
#3 Northwestern: 29 points
The Eagles earned 29 points to rank third in the poll and received two first-place votes.
Head coach: Patrick Fitzgerald |2nd Season |
Top Returners:
- Caroline Ringsmuth, Sr. |First-team All-UMAC (24:24), 1st team finisher (7th place) | 23rd at NCCAA
- Nationals (20:18.8 5k)|
- Isabelle Yuhanna, Jr. |Second-team All-UMAC (24:50), 2nd team finisher (8th place) | 30th at NCCAA
- Nationals (20:29.5 5k) |
- Emery Maki, Jr. |Second-team All-UMAC (25:01), 3rd team finisher (11th place) | 17th at NCCAA Nationals (20:00.3 5k) |
#4 Martin Luther: 19 points
The Knights received 19 points to earn the fourth spot in the poll.
Head coach: Breann Olson |7th season |
Top Returners:
- Jemma Habben, Sophomore | First-team All-UMAC|2024 Championships: eighth overall, 24:37.6, 2nd team finisher |
- Liberty VanDenHeuvel, Junior |2024 Championships: 27th overall, 27:11.7, 5th team finisher |
- Alexandra Schroeder, Junior |2024 Championships: 28th overall, 27:26.1, 6th team finisher |
#5 Bethany Lutheran: 16 points
The Vikings received 16 points to finish fifth in the poll.
Head coach: Dominic Santina | 1st season
Top returners
- Taryn Zellman, So. | 2024 Championships: 26th, 27:40.6, 4th team finisher
#6 Minnesota Morris: 12 points
The Cougars earned 12 points for the sixth spot in the poll.
Head coach: Caroline Collet | 1st season |
Top Returners
- Sylvia Pesch, Junior | 2024 Championships: 19th, 26:21.7, #1 team finisher |
- Lindsey Hause, Sophomore | 2024 Championships: 22nd, 26:39.3, #3 team finisher |
- Lilly Ronholdt, Sophomore| 2024 Championships: 56th, 32:45.2, #6 team finisher |
#7 North Central: 7 points
The Rams earned seven points to earn the seventh spot on the list.
Head coach: Delaney Butler | 1st season |
Top Returners
- Avah Kraushaar, SR |missed last year due to injury
- Hope Naegelen, JR | 2024 Championships: 55th place, 32:08, 2nd team finisher |
Conference Championship
The 2025 UMAC Women's Cross Country Championship will be held Saturday, November 1 in Winthrop, Minnesota. The athletes will be running a six-kilometer course. The event will be hosted at the Winthrop Golf Club.