TU Nabs No. 1 Ranking in Fourth NAIA In-Season Poll

NAIA Women's XC Coaches' Rating - No. 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Taylor women's cross country team grabbed the top spot in the fourth in-season NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Rating, released Thursday. Taylor garnered 14 of 20 first-place votes to move to No. 1 for the first time in just over a year – Oct. 25, 2023 was the last date TU was ranked first.

Following its second program-record-breaking race time of the season at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge on Oct. 26, the Trojans vaulted over No. 2 Milligan, which received three first-place votes along with No. 3 Saint Mary.

The poll marks the 87th consecutive top-25 ranking appearance for Taylor, and it is the third straight year TU has claimed the top spot at some point.

Four-time Crossroads League Runner of the Week, Jaynie Halterman, spearheads a loaded top-seven group of Trojans that potentially features Noel VanderWall, Ahna Neideck, Audrey Brinkruff, Sam Patterson, Abby Mays and Kaitlin Burden. Emersyn Funk, Rebekah Firestone and Kennedy Applegate are also runners that could factor into the mix for head coach Quinn White's squad as the championship portion of the season arrives.

Taylor (72-1) looks to secure a 12th consecutive Crossroads League Championship on Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at the TU Cross Country Farm in Upland, Indiana.