RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – The Ouachita women's cross country team has been voted as the No. 1 team in the Great American Conference preseason coaches' poll.

The Tigers received eight of the 12 first-place votes in the poll following the program's second title in the past three years in 2024. Last year's squad also finished 10th out of 31 teams at the NCAA central region championship meet.

Three All-GAC runners return from that team, including Allison Hylkema, Katelynn Nachtigal, and Elise Knight along with GAC Coach of the Year Steve Guymon.  

Following Ouachita in the preseason poll are, in order, Arkansas Tech with three first-place votes, East Central with one first-place vote, Oklahoma Baptist, Harding, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southern Nazarene, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Henderson State, and Arkansas-Monticello.

The 2025 season starts at home for the Tigers on Saturday, September 6 for the annual Bob Gravett Invitational.