The Northwest Missouri State University women's cross-country team has come in at No. 25 in the nation in this week's USTFCCCA national coaches' poll. 
 
The Bearcats secured No. 5 in the final USTFCCCA Central Region Rankings after securing fifth at the NCAA Central Region Championships.
 
The Bearcats have had an impressive showing this season, having placed 4th at the MIAA Champions and most recently secured 5th at the Central Region Championships. Sophomore Olivia Bakker set a new personal record at 21:15.79, leading the team with a ninth place finish. Senior Lydia McGlocklin (21:33.90) and junior Mayson Hartley (21:47.87) finished 14th and 24th respectively, both setting new personal bests. 
 
Rounding out the top 5 for the 'Cats were Lou Maquaire with a time of 22:07.71, finishing 37th, and Jessa Cassity with a time of 22:39.41, finishing 72nd. Maquaire and Cassity both set new personal bests.
 
Bakker posted the 4th-best time in women's 6K in Bearcat cross country history. McGlocklin, Hartley, and Maquaire also broke school records, posting the 10th, 12th, and 14th-best times in Northwest history. 
 
Bakker earned an at-large bid to compete as an individual at the 2025 NCAA Div. II Cross Country Championships. On the men's side, the Bearcat men earned one of three automatic team berths to compete at the National Championship after the teams first place finish at the NCAA Central Region Championship. The 2025 NCAA Div. II Cross Country Championships is set for Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wis.
 
USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll (Nov. 12)
1. Grand Valley State  
2. Adams State  
3. Colo. School of Mines  
4. UC-Colorado Springs  
5. Western Colorado  
6. West Texas A&M  
7. Cedarville  
8. Wingate  
9. Chico State  
10. Lewis  
11. Winona State  
12. Northern Michigan  
13. Pittsburg State  
14. Catawba  
15. Cal Poly Pomona  
16. Nebraska-Kearney  
17. CSU Pueblo  
18. Western Washington  
19. Biola (Calif.)  
20. Colorado Mesa  
21. Walsh  
22. Stanislaus State  
23. Fort Lewis  
24. Minnesota State  
25. Northwest Missouri State
26. Palm Beach Atlantic  
27. Flagler  
28. Lee (Tenn.)  
29. Rogers State  
30. Point Loma Nazarene  
 
USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country Final Central Region Rankings (Nov. 8)
1. Winona State  
2. Pittsburg State  
3. Nebraska-Kearney  
4. Minnesota State  
5. Northwest Missouri State
6. Rogers State  
7. Augustana (S.D.)  
8. Missouri Southern  
9. Washburn  
10. Fort Hays State  
11. Minnesota Duluth  
12. East Central (Okla.)  
13. Ouachita Baptist  
14. U-Mary  
15. Arkansas Tech  
16. Harding  
17. Oklahoma Baptist  
18. Minnesota Crookston  
19. Sioux Falls  
20. Southeastern Oklahoma State  
21. Northern State  
22. Emporia State  
23. Northwestern Oklahoma State  
24. Arkansas-Fort Smith  
25. Minot State  
26. Bemidji State  
27. Wayne State (Neb.)  
28. MSU Moorhead  
29. Missouri Western  
30. Southern Arkansas  
31. Central Missouri  
32. Newman  
33. Central Oklahoma  
34. Southern Nazarene  
35. Southwestern Oklahoma State