Contact: Greta Norville, Assistant Director of Sport Communications and Marketing, norvilleg@midwestconference.org 

NEENAH, Wisconsin – Four Midwest Conference (MWC) cross country programs earned recognition in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Week 1 Regional Rankings, with teams appearing in both the Midwest and North regions on Tuesday afternoon. 

The MWC is represented by three women’s programs in the Week 1 regional rankings. Grinnell College and Cornell College remain ranked in the Midwest Region, while Ripon College holds its spot in the North Region rankings. The Grinnell men are the only MWC men’s program to be ranked as well. 

The Pioneer women have continued to make their mark early in the season, holding their No. 6 ranking in the Midwest Region after finishing runner-up in each of their first two 2026 meets. Cornell College has stayed at number seven from the preseason rankings, as the Rams’ Lidia Dahlman set a 4K course record at Wartburg’s John Kurtt Invitational on September 5. Both programs continue to represent the MWC among the region’s top teams early in the 2026 cross country season. 

Ripon College remains ranked No. 6 in the North Region in the Week 1 rankings after opening the season with a first-place team finish at St. Norbert’s Tom Barry Invitational. Ripon’s Joley Berger was the individual 5K champion as well. The Red Hawks have established early momentum as they look to build on last year’s ninth-place team finish at the regional meet. 

Grinnell continues to represent the Midwest Conference among the Midwest Region’s top men’s cross country programs, holding the 10th spot in the Week 1 rankings. The Pioneers have opened the 2026 season with a pair of runner-up team finishes. 

All four teams will look to maintain their positions in the regional rankings as they return to competition this weekend.