KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) released its 2026 Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, and the Hillcats were picked to finish second, matching a program-best prediction achieved last season.
 
RSU collected a total of 128 points and received three first-place votes following a runner-up finish last season at the MIAA Championship in Pittsburg – just one point behind first-place.
 
The defending four-time champions, Pittsburg State, are favored to win the conference with 138 points and seven first-place votes. Nebraska-Kearney (116 points), Missouri Southern (107 points) and Northwest Missouri (103 points) rounded out the top five.
 
Rogers State will host the RSU Distance After Dark, presented by Armstrong Bank, race in Tulsa on Thursday, September 3, at the Mohawk Sports Complex to begin the season. The meet is slated to start at 10:00 p.m.
 
2026 MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [7] – 138 points
2. Rogers State [3] – 128 points
3. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 116 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 107 points
5. Northwest Missouri – 103 points
6. Fort Hays State – 91 points
7. Washburn [1] – 86 points
8. Emporia State – 56 points
9. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 52 points
10. Central Missouri – 49 points
11. Missouri Western – 44 points
T12. Central Oklahoma – 22 points
T12. Newman – 22 points 
[#] - First Place Votes