(Logo courtesy of the Great Plains Athletic Conference)Sioux City, Iowa – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) has released their 2026 Preseason Women’s Cross Country Poll after a vote of the league coaches.
Dordt University, the defending women’s conference champion, is the preseason pick for 2026. The Defenders scored 17 points to claim the 2025 league title last fall, with Corinne Braun repeating as the individual championship in the GPAC. Dordt totaled 121 points and eleven (11) first place votes.
College of Saint Mary was picked second in the preseason poll with 104 points and the final first place vote. Concordia was picked third with 94, while Morningside and Doane rounded out the top-five on the women’s side.
Northwestern College was selected sixth with 72 points.
The 2026 GPAC Cross Country Championships are Saturday, November 7, in Sioux Center, Iowa, at Dordt University.
Coaches could not vote for their own team in the poll.
2026 GPAC Preseason Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll:
| Place | Team | Points | First Place Votes |
| 1 | DORDT | 121 | 11 |
| 2 | COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY | 104 | 1 |
| 3 | CONCORDIA | 94 | |
| 4 | MORNINGSIDE | 91 | |
| 5 | DOANE | 90 | |
| 6 | NORTHWESTERN | 72 | |
| 7 | HASTINGS | 54 | |
| 8 | WALDORF | 50 | |
| 9 | MIDLAND | 44 | |
| 10 | MOUNT MARTY | 38 | |
| 11 | BRIAR CLIFF | 19 | |
| 12 | DAKOTA WESLEYAN | 15 |
