CLEVELAND, Ohio – The North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) announced Monday afternoon the results of its 2026 pre-championship coaches poll for women's cross country. Ohio Wesleyan University was picked to finish second in the conference at the NCAC Championship on Saturday.

John Carroll took the top spot with 61 points and six first-place votes. The reigning NCAC-champion Battling Bishops received two first-place votes and 58 points. DePauw rounded out the top three with 48 points.

Denison (41), Kenyon (31), Oberlin (24), Wittenberg (16), and Wooster (9) made up the bottom five.

Reigning NCAC Runner of the Year Zoe Ward looks to repeat as individual conference champion, coming off her best career time of 21:28.6 at the Connecticut College Invitational on October 17.

The NCAC Championship will take place at Oberlin on Saturday, with the women's race kicking off at 11 a.m.