Women's Cross Country NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll

Kansas City, Missouri - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2026 Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Saints, who finished 18th at the 2025 NAIA Women's National Championships, find themselves slotted at #22 to start the season. 

Mike Wojciakowski, who begins his 29th season leading the Saints, will look to some seasoned veterans and a cast of newcomers to lead the Saints in 2026. Aquinas, who returns five of their top seven from last fall, will feature a pair of returners who garnered All-WHAC accolades last season. Amber Koole placed 6th, while Ella Koons captured 12th place at the 2025 WHAC Championships. In addition, upperclassmen Lexi Hurst, Noelle House, Anna Tubbergen and Claire O'Boyle have come into camp in great shape and have assumed their leadership roles within the team.  Aquinas also will sport an additional five freshman and a transfer who will be lacing up the spikes for AQ for the first time this fall.

The Saints, who are looking to claim their first WHAC title since 2020, finished second in 2025 and find themselves behind one other WHAC schools in the preseason rankings. Cornerstone sits at #5 in the NAIA to start the season.

Coach Woj commented, "I am really looking forward to seeing the progress this group makes over the course of the season. We have the pieces to be a very solid squad and I am excited to see who steps up to fill the shoes of our departed seniors."

Aquinas will open their season on September 19th at the Knight Invitational in Grand Rapids, Michigan.