Women’s XC opens 2022 as No. 1 team in NAIA Preseason Poll

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (August 24, 2022) – The Milligan University women's cross country team, the defending NAIA national champions, open the 2022 season as the No. 1 team in the NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll.

The Buffs have appeared in every NAIA woman's cross country national poll in each of the past seven seasons. Wednesday's ranking marks the 21st-conseuctive top-10 ranking dating back to 2019.

Junior Alyssa Bearzi won the individual NAIA national title in women's cross country last fall. The Buffs were an undefeated 65-0 in head-to-head competition against NAIA institutions and owned a 17-4 mark against NCAA Division I opponents in 2021. The Buffs made their 19th-straight NAIA national championship team appearance and notched their seventh-consecutive top-15 national finish.

Along with Bearzi returns senior Caitlin Dominy and junior Gracie Allen. Both were All-AAC First Team honorees and top-five finishers for the Buffs at the NAIA National Championships.

The Buffs begin their 2022 campaign at Appalachian State's Covered Bridge Open on Sept. 2.