August 19, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State (S.D.) was picked to finish third in the 2026 Frontier Conference Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll, announced by the conference office Wednesday.
The Trojans collected 74 points in the 11-team preseason poll. Dakota State finished three points ahead of Rocky Mountain (Mont.), which was fourth with 71 points. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.
Defending Frontier Conference champion Carroll (Mont.) was the preseason favorite. The Fighting Saints collected nine first-place votes and 100 points. Montana Tech received the other first-place vote and was second with 91 points.
Bellevue (Neb.) rounded out the top five with 65 points. Bismarck State (N.D.) followed in sixth with 61 points, while Dickinson State (N.D.) was seventh with 41 points. Montana Western was eighth with 34 points and Valley City State (N.D.) ninth with 32 points. MSU-Northern and Providence (Mont.) tied for 10th with 18 points each.
The Trojans were fourth in their inaugural Frontier Conference cross country meet last season.
Dakota State begins its 2026 campaign Sept. 4 at the Augustana Twilight in Sioux Falls, S.D. The women's 5-kilometer race is scheduled for 8:45 p.m.
The Trojans continue their schedule Sept. 12 at the Dordt Sunflower Open in Sioux Center, Iowa, followed by the Augustana Invitational Sept. 25 in Sioux Falls. DSU returns to Sioux Center for the Dordt Holiday Inn Express Classic Oct. 10 before wrapping up its regular-season schedule Oct. 24 at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic in Ashland, Neb.
The 2026 Frontier Conference Cross Country Championships return to Amend Park in Billings on Nov. 6, with Rocky Mountain serving as the host. The conference team champion receives an automatic berth to the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships, set for Nov. 20 at Fort Vancouver Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash.
2026 Frontier Conference Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll
| Rank |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Carroll (Mont.) (9) |
100 |
| 2 |
Montana Tech (1) |
91 |
| 3 |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
74 |
| 4 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) |
71 |
| 5 |
Bellevue (Neb.) |
65 |
| 6 |
Bismarck State (N.D.) |
61 |
| 7 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
41 |
| 8 |
Montana Western |
34 |
| 9 |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
32 |
| T-10 |
MSU-Northern |
18 |
| T-10 |
Providence (Mont.) |
18 |
