NEW ORLEANS, La. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced its NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Week One National Rankings, with Rogers State jumping one spot to 18th with 94 points. RSU has now appeared in the USTFCCCA poll for an impressive 17 straight weeks.
 
This increase follows the Hillcats opening the season with their fifth consecutive team title at the RSU Distance After Dark meet. Just yesterday, RSU was tabbed as the third-ranked team in the NCAA Division II Central Region, making them the second-highest-ranked team in the MIAA.
 
Adams State received 238 points to claim the top spot in the preseason poll, narrowly edging out Grand Valley State, which garnered 233 points. Wingate followed closely in third with 225 points, while Colorado Mines and Western Colorado rounded out the top five with 216 and 208 points, respectively. Pittsburg State ranked ninth with 176 points, Nebraska-Kearney was 23rd with 62 points, and Missouri Southern is 27th with 38 points. The RMAC leads the top 30 with seven representatives, while the MIAA is second with four. For more information, visit 2026 NCAA DII Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll – Week 1 ::: USTFCCCA.
 
Rogers State will return to action this Saturday at the MSSU Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri. The men's race is scheduled for 7:30 a.m., followed by the women's race at 8:10 a.m. at Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.