For the first time, both Kansas Wesleyan Women's and Men's Cross Country teams are ranked in the NAIA Top 25 polls at the same time.
"This group has really pushed the program forward and it's pleasing to see the raters take notice," KWU head coach Garrett Young said. "We have had incredible support from the administration and it's put our program in a really great position to be successful."
The women held steady at No. 18 in the second rating of the season that was released on October 3 after being ranked in the first rating of the season on September 26. KWU received votes in the preseason rating, sitting at the No. 28 position if the rating extended beyond the Top 25.
The rating marks the first time the Coyotes have appeared in the NAIA Top 25 since the 2010 season when KWU was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country.
The Coyotes are led by local talent Madisyn Ehrlich, who has been the top finisher at both meets this season. Along with Kierra Jensen, Charlee Lind and Alayna Behrman who have all been in the top five for the Coyotes this season.
"We have four different All-Americans on our roster, but only one graduating senior in the bunch. It's a young group but they've made some really incredible strides and should surprise some people in November," Young said.
On the men's side, after receiving votes in last season's preseason rating, KWU jumped into the rankings for the entire regular season, debuting at No. 24 and reaching as high as No. 20 in the next to last rating of the season.
The Coyotes went on to finish second at the KCAC Championships and earn the team's first NAIA Nationals bid since 2016. KWU went on to finish 14th at the NAIA National Championships, setting a new high-water mark for a team finish at the National Championships.
Fast forward a year and the Coyotes are right there amongst the nation's best again. KWU opened the year ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Preseason Rating, and are currently No. 16 in the latest rating, which was released October 3.
Wesleyan's top 5 has been consistent through both competitions this season with fifth-year athlete Austin Hess leading the way, followed by returning All-American Damion Jackson, Julian Avila, Giovanni Rios and Jake Cruz.
"We have a really experienced group for the first time in my tenure," Young said. "Like the women, we have four different NAIA All-Americans between cross country and track. I think this group really wants to prove that last year wasn't a fluke and that this is a Top 10 program."
Wesleyan is back on the course this weekend, heading to Columbia, Missouri to run in the Brian T. Simpson Invitational, hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis.