Greenville University was picked by league coaches as the SLIAC preseason favorites in women's cross country for the upcoming 2024 season. Greenville, the two-time defending champion, led the way with 64 total points and eight first-place votes. Head Coach Brian Patton returns 10 runners from last year's championship team including six of his top seven. Heading up the list of returners is the 2023 SLIAC Runner of the Year, Gretchen Carie. Carie is a three-time All-Conference runner and will look to become the 8th runner in conference history to repeat as an individual champion. Also back are All-Conference runners Norah Swinigan, Brook Schutt, Raven Vance, Delanie Ulrich, Emily Bohm, and Makenna Hintz. The Panthers continue to add to their depth by bringing in four new runners that will try to break into the lineup.
Lyon College was picked 2nd with 53 points, collecting the final first-place vote. Kacie Teruya and Madison DeRoussel were All-Conference runners last fall, their first season in the SLIAC. Teruya placed 7th at last year's conference championship and had a season best time of 25:16. Head Coach Adam Trausch brings in a group of newcomers that includes Alora Huver, Olivia Letkey, Novalee Lackey, Joanna Wilson, and Sensation Vallerie.
Principia College was chosen 3rd with 44 points. Head Coach Nick Barron will rely on returners Kyrstyn Cieply and Joy Onyechi to lead the way. Cieply is back after not running last fall while Onyechi had a season best time of 28:06 last fall. Newcomer Nina Martinez will step into the team's lineup.
Coming in 4th is Spalding University with 42 points. Head Coach Stephen Gray brings back three runners while adding another six new faces to the program as they look to have a breakthrough season. Reganne Piercy, Lexie Barthmaier, and Muskan Jamshed should all push each other at the top the lineup. Top newcomers include Avory Hamblen, Bailey Haws, Takara Williams, Braeanna Billups, and Eryn Rataiczak.
Eureka College finished with 35 points, placing them 5th on the poll. The Red Devils will have to adjust after losing two-time All-Conference runner Karissa Heffernan. Head Coach Chris Robinson will look to Emily Baker to continue her development after a strong first year in the program last season. Baker placed 2nd on the team in all seven races last fall and finished 12th overall at the SLIAC Championship, earning All-Conference honors. Rachel Fisher also returns to the program after missing out last fall.
Finishing 6th in the voting is Webster University with 33 points. Head Coach Kyle Robinson will work with a young roster, one that is full of freshman or sophomores with just one senior. Sophomores Natalie Kist and Destiny Bridges (a transfer) will be counted on to lead the pack of Gorloks. Other returners include Abigail Szydlowski and Symphony Schodroski. New faces adding to the depth are Madison Cox, Emily Horowitz, and Brie Inman.
MUW totaled 22 points, putting them 7th on the poll. Head Coach Dedrick Burnett will have returners Hannah Owens and Kalee Sanders to pace his lineup. Owens was the first Owl across the line in all six of their races last fall and earned All-Conference honors. She will look to build upon her strong track season in the spring that saw her win the 10K and finish second in the 5K. Other returners include Paris Flanery, Vonisha Towns, and Michaiah Adams while freshmen Rebecca Aday and Alaina Mathis join the program.
Westminster College comes in 8th with 16 points. Head Coach Hunter Briggs continues to build up the Blue Jays program, bringing in newcomers Keeley Lauer, Natalie Stewart, and Byatanga Kashindi as they look to field a team in the conference championship for the first time in three years.
Blackburn College was picked 9th with 15 total points. The Beavers will be led by senior Olivia Leemon. Leemon was the team's leading runner in all six events last season and just missed All-Conference honors, finishing 18th at the SLIAC Championship. Also back are Kailynn Kruep and Gracie Jent. Top newcomers include Alexis Johnson and Caitlin Rainey.