Contact: Heather Benning, Executive Director, benningh@midwestconference.org

GRINNELL, Iowa – Thirty years ago, in the fall of 1995, the first Midwest Conference (MWC) Women’s Cross Country Champion was crowned. Placing six runners among the top eight finishers, including the league’s individual champion, Grinnell College took the inaugural title and has since added ten more - the most recent of which was in the fall of 2023.
In the 2024 preseason poll of league head coaches, the Grinnell Pioneers have been picked to defend their title and repeat as champions for the twelfth time in Conference history. Grinnell received seven first-place votes and one second-place vote to earn 63 points.

Lawrence University, the 2021 MWC Champion, finished second in the coaches’ poll, collecting two first-place votes and 53 points, while the recipients of the 2022 title - Ripon College - was just slightly behind with 51 points for third.

Cornell College, who last won a league championship in 2015, picked up 46 points to secure a fourth-place finish in the poll, while Lake Forest College slid into the fifth spot with 34 points.

Monmouth College (25), Beloit College (19), Illinois College (17) and Knox College (16) were selected to fill the final four positions at the season’s culminating event.

The 2024 MWC Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, November 2, at the Reid Municipal Golf Course in Appleton, Wisconsin. The women’s race will start at 11:00 a.m.

Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine teams follow:

2024 MWC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Grinnell College (7) – 63 points
2. Lawrence University (2) – 53 points
3. Ripon College – 51 points
4. Cornell College – 46 points
5. Lake Forest College – 34 points
6. Monmouth College – 25 points
7. Beloit College – 19 points
8. Illinois College – 17 points
9. Knox College – 16 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes
* Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Ellie Waddle (4th Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 6th
All-Conference Returnees: Simone De Montigny (20th, Jr)
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jerry Frawley (4th Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 4th
All-Conference Returnees: Alyza Koppes (8th, Jr); Katie Lammers (19th, Sr)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Sarah Burnell (4th Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 1st
All-Conference Returnees: Morgan Karow (3rd, Jr); Talia Harrison (10th, Jr); Hannah Roark (11th, Jr); Crystal Kaczmarczyk (12th, Sr)
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Anthony Flores (2nd Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 9th
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Ryan Monson (2nd Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 8th
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Patrick Austin (3rd Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 5th
All-Conference Returnees: Sophie Graham (14th, So); Lettia Hoda (15th, So)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Jason Fast (16th Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 2nd
All-Conference Returnees: Cristyn Oliver (5th, Sr - 2021/2022 MWC Champion), Edythmae Frodl (7th, Sr), Riley Winebrenner (9th, Sr), Jane Partsch (13th, So)
 
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Cooper Pauley (1st Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 7th
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Drew Hoffman (1st Season)
2023 MWC Finish: 3rd
All-Conference Returnees: Alison Denamur (2nd, Sr), Jenny Cortes (4th, Jr), Gabby Allard (18th, So)
 
Note: Prior to 1995, the men’s and women’s athletic program and member institutions were organized into separate conferences. While the men’s programs competed within the Midwest Athletic Collegiate Conference, the women’s programs were part of the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women (MACW). The first Women’s MACW Cross Country meet took place in the fall of 1978, and a champion was crowned each of the subsequent 16 years. There have been a combined 37 champions crowned between the MACW and MWC women’s cross country championships. Grinnell has claimed the title 21 times, while the current member with the next most victories is Cornell College with eight. Lawrence University has four titles, while Monmouth College has two and Ripon and Beloit each have one.