The Emporia State cross country teams will enter 2025 with something to prove in 2025 after being selected in the bottom half of the MIAA Cross Country preseason polls. The Lady Hornets are slotted eighth with the men picked 10th. Pittsburg State was the favorite on the women’s side with eight first-place votes while Rogers State was second with three first-place votes. In the men’s rankings, Northwest Missouri was picked to win the league with 10 first-place votes while Pitt State was slotted second with two first-place votes. The Lady Hornets return three runners off last year’s team while the Hornets have three of their top four runners back from a year ago. The Hornets have their only home event of the season Friday at their annual Alumni Run set for 6:45 p.m. at Champions Landing. E-State opens up the season at the J. K. Gold Classic on Saturday, September 6 hosted by Wichita State.
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
2025 MIAA MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Northwest Missouri [10] – 118 points
2. Pittsburg State [2] – 111 points
3. Nebraska Kearney – 95 points
4. Washburn – 91 points
5. Missouri Southern – 79 points
6. Central Missouri – 69 points
7. Missouri Western – 63 points
8. Fort Hays State – 59 points
9. Rogers State – 42 points
10. Emporia State – 32 points
11. Newman – 22 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 12 points
[#] – Number of First Place Votes
