Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Lawrence University was the choice of the league's head coaches to repeat as champions in the 2022 Midwest Conference (MWC) women's cross country preseason poll, announced Tuesday.
 
The Vikings were picked first ahead of Grinnell College, claiming seven of the nine available first-place votes and 63 points. The Pioneers received the two remaining first-place votes and 57 points.  
 
Last season, Lawrence won the conference crown for the first time in twenty years, while Grinnell finished as the runner-up.
 
Ripon College secured a third-place finish in the poll with 50 points, ahead of Cornell College (44) and Monmouth College (33) in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
 
Lake Forest College (27), Beloit College (17), and Knox College (13) round out the poll.
 
The season opens Thursday, September 1, for four league teams, with three teams following on Friday and the last two on Saturday.
 
The 2022 campaign will conclude with the MWC Cross Country Championships hosted by Monmouth College on Saturday, October 29.
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below: 
 
2022 MWC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results 
1. Lawrence University (7) – 63 points
2. Grinnell College (2) – 57 points
3. Ripon College – 50 points
4. Cornell College – 44 points
5. Monmouth College – 33 points
6. Lake Forest College – 27 points
7. Illinois College – 20 points
8. Beloit College – 17 points
9. Knox College – 13 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes 
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. 
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Ellie Waddle (2^nd Season)
2021 MWC Finish: 7^th
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jerry Frawley (2^nd Season)
2021 MWC Finish: 5^th
All-Conference Returnees: Billie Fogarty (Sr), Michelle Nava (Jr), Natalie Neuhaus (So)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Sarah Burnell (2^nd Season)
2021 MWC Finish: 2^nd
All-Conference Returnees: Crys Kaczmarczyk (So), Megan LeBlanc (Jr), Emma Schaefer (Sr), Sarah Torrence (Sr)

Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Jason Haynes (9^th Season)
2021 MWC Finish: --
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Evander Wells (3^rd Season)
2021 MWC Finish: --
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Patrick Austin (1^st Season)
2021 MWC Finish: 6^th
All-Conference Returnees: Madeline Morland (Sr - 2021 MWC Runner-Up)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Jason Fast (14^th Season)
2021 MWC Finish: 1^st
All-Conference Returnees: Althea Foster (Jr), Edythmae Frodl (So), Cristyn Oliver (Jr - 2021 MWC Champion), Riley Winebrenner (So)
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Brady Hunt (1^st Season)
2021 MWC Finish: 4^th
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Corey Bins (6^th Season)
2021 MWC Finish: 3^rd
All-Conference Returnees: Grace Engebretson (Sr), Mikayla Flyte (Sr), Natalie Pakosz (Sr)