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FARMINGTON, Utah (August 16, 2021) – In a unanimous decision the coaches in the Big Sky Conference have named two-time defending league champion Northern Arizona the favorites heading into the fall 2021 women’s cross country campaign.
NAU claimed the Big Sky title back in spring, scoring just 27 points, which was the lowest point total the league had seen since 2005. The Lumberjacks have claimed four of the previous five Big Sky titles, and 21 since the Big Sky added women’s sports ahead of the 1988-89 season.
The Lumberjack women’s squad finished 11
th at the most recent NCAA National Championship, where they were led by Big Sky Individual Champion Taryn O’Neill who became an All-American with a sixth-place finish.
“It’s exciting to us, having such a good trend of racing behind us to be selected as the favorites, and we’re looking forward to continuing that trend through this season and defending our Big Sky title,” O’Neill said.
NAU received all 11 first-place votes, and the highest overall total with 121.
Selected second by the Big Sky coaches is Weber State, who collected 104 points. The Wildcats were last season’s runner-up at the Big Sky Championship, and saw Summer Allen become an All-American with a seventh-place finish at the National Championships.
WSU last won a women’s cross country title in 2015.
After finishing in third at the most recent Big Sky Championship meet, Montana State was selected in that slot heading into the fall campaign. MSU’s Camila Noe won the 2019 Individual Championship in Greeley, Colorado, with a time of 17:41.3.
Following the Bobcats is Southern Utah in fourth, who had the same finish in the spring as well. Southern Utah was represented by Alison Pray at last season’s National Championship meet. SUU was the most recent team aside from NAU to win a league title, as they claimed it in 2018.
Rounding out the preseason top-five is Idaho, who received 79 points from the coaches.
The Vikings of Portland State were selected sixth in the coaches poll, followed by Idaho State and Montana respectively, who were separated by only a single point.
Sacramento State, Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado occupy the three final available slots.
2021 Big Sky Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Place |
Team |
Total Points (First Place Votes) |
1 |
Northern Arizona |
121 (11) |
| 2 |
Weber State |
104 |
| 3 |
Montana State |
93 |
| 4 |
Southern Utah |
89 |
| 5 |
Idaho |
79 |
| 6 |
Portland State |
57 |
| 7 |
Idaho State |
53 |
| 8 |
Montana |
52 |
| 9 |
Sacramento State |
33 |
| 10 |
Eastern Washington |
30 |
| 11 |
Northern Colorado |
15 |