FARMINGTON, Utah (August 22, 2024) – Ready to defend their titles again, the Northern Arizona men’s and women’s cross country programs were unanimous favorites in the Big Sky Conference coaches polls during the preseason, league headquarters announced this morning.
Both programs received all available first-place votes from the league’s coaches who were unable to vote for their own teams. Montana State was picked to finish second in both polls, followed by Weber State, which was also predicted to finish third in both polls. The results of the 2024-25 Big Sky Coaches’ Poll are below.
Northern Arizona finished second in both the men’s and women’s competitions at the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. A dominant cross country season saw teams take first place at the prestigious Nuttycombe Invitational, Big Sky Championships and NCAA Mountain Regionals.
The NAU men look to defend their Big Sky title for the fourth consecutive year, while the women seek their sixth. As a program, the Jacks are fighting for their fourth straight win and 21stst overall victory in program history in November at the championships in Pocatello, Idaho. Last season, the women’s team made history by posting the lowest point total in women’s conference championship history and finishing in the top seven.
Two-time individual Big Sky champion Elise Stearns returns for the Jacks this year, while the men are expected to have a singles champion for the ninth consecutive year.
The 2024 cross-country season is just around the corner and begins on August 31 with the annual George Kyte Classic in Flagstaff, Arizona.
NAU will compete in the conference championships on November 1 in Pocatello, Idaho, the NCAA Mountain Regionals on November 15 in Reno, Nevada, and the 2024 NCAA DI National Championships are scheduled for November 23 in Madison, Wisconsin.
To stay up to date with Northern Arizona cross country programs, follow the teams on X, Instagram and Twitter.
2024 Men’s Cross Country Coaches Survey
1) Northern Arizona (10) – 100
2) State of Montana – 90
3) Weber State – 80
4) Idaho – 67
5) Eastern Washington – 61
6) Montana – 50
7) State of Idaho – 36
8) Northern Colorado – 30
9) Sacramento State – 20
10) Portland State – 16
Major survey among cross-country coaches 2024
1) Northern Arizona (10) – 100
2) State of Montana – 89
3) Weber State – 78
4) Idaho – 71
5) Eastern Washington – 58
6) Northern Colorado – 41
7) Sacramento State – 36
T8) State of Idaho – 31
T8) Montana – 31
10) Portland State – 15
