GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) released the results of the 2025 men's and women's cross country preseason polls on Thursday, Aug. 28.
The rankings were determined by a vote of the league head coaches.
In the men's poll, Grand Valley State was selected as the favorite for the 2025 season, totaling 81 points while garnering nine first-place votes. In 2024, the Lakers captured their 22nd consecutive conference crown, claiming the top 5 spots in the championship race to post a perfect score of 15.
Saginaw Valley State, the GLIAC runners-up last year, were ranked No. 2, collecting 71 points and one first-place vote.
Close behind in third place, just four points back, was Michigan Tech (67).
Wayne State was picked fourth (53) by the coaches.
Four points separated the next two spots, with Parkside (46) ahead of Ferris State (42).
Davenport finished at No. 7 with Lake Superior State, Purdue Northwest and Roosevelt rounding out the men's poll, respectively.
In the women's poll, reigning GLIAC champion Grand Valley State was selected to claim the program's 24th straight conference title. The Lakers earned the maximum 100 points and 10 first-place votes.
A year ago, GVSU placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. Lauren Kiley, the 2024 NCAA individual champion, returns to lead the Lakers.
Parkside, last year's third-place finisher at the GLIAC Championships, was predicted to place second in 2025. The Rangers accumulated 84 points. Abbi Steiner, who placed third in the 2024 conference title race, is back.
With 80 total points, Wayne State was tabbed for third place.
Saginaw Valley State (77) and Michigan Tech (65) completed the top five vote-getters.
The Northern Michigan women were selected sixth (56) followed in order by Ferris State (49), Davenport (32), Lake Superior State (26), Purdue Northwest (25) and Roosevelt (11).
2025 GLIAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. |
Grand Valley State |
|
81 (9) |
|
| 2. |
Saginaw Valley State |
|
71 (1) |
|
| 3. |
Michigan Tech |
|
67 |
|
| 4. |
Wayne State |
|
53 |
|
| 5. |
Parkside |
|
|
46 |
|
| 6. |
Ferris State |
|
|
42 |
|
| 7. |
Davenport |
|
|
37 |
|
| 8. |
Lake Superior State |
|
23 |
|
| 9. |
Purdue Northwest |
|
21 |
|
| 10. |
Roosevelt |
|
|
9 |
|
2025 GLIAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. |
Grand Valley State |
|
100 (10) |
|
| 2. |
Parkside |
|
84 (1) |
|
| 3. |
Wayne State |
|
80 |
|
| 4. |
Saginaw Valley State |
|
77 |
|
| 5. |
Michigan Tech |
|
|
65 |
|
| 6. |
Northern Michigan |
|
|
56 |
|
| 7. |
Ferris State |
|
|
49 |
|
| 8. |
Davenport |
|
32 |
|
| 9. |
Lake Superior State |
|
26 |
|
| 10. |
Purdue Northwest |
|
|
25 |
|
| 11. |
Roosevelt |
|
|
11 |
|
