KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Cedarville (Ohio) University Yellow Jackets boast the No. 1 spot in the 2008 NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, announced today (Aug. 19). Cedarville totaled 10 first-place votes and came away with 371 total points. The Yellow Jackets took Championship runner-up honors last season and return senior Nicole Santos, who took 12^th in the 2007 National Championship, the highest finish of any CU runner. CU is looking for its fourth straight American Mideast Conference title in 2008.

Azusa Pacific (Calif.), which claims perhaps two of the NAIA's best athletes, posted 359 points and stands at No. 2. Senior Jaime Canterbury and sophomore Jacky Kipwambok finished one-two in the individual standings at the National Championship last November. Just behind Azusa is No. 3 Malone (Ohio), which notched 352 total points. No. 4 Milligan (Tenn.) follows the top three schools while Biola (Calif.) and Wayland Baptist (Texas) are tied at No. 5.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. The ratings included those ballots submitted by these selected raters. The first regular season Top 25 poll will be announced on Sept. 9.

2008 NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll - (Aug. 19)

Others receiving votes:

Berry College (Ga.) 65; Walsh University (Ohio) 57; Corban College (Ore.) 57; Morningside College (Iowa) 38; Taylor University (Ind.) 36; Oklahoma Christian University 35; Xavier University (La.) 14; Campbellsville University (Ky.) 13; Houghton College (N.Y.) 12; King College (Tenn.) 12; Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) 9; Georgetown College (Ky.) 5; Roberts Wesleyan College (N.Y.) 1; Tabor College (Kan.) 1; Vanguard University (Calif.) 1; Mount Mercy College (Iowa) 1; Jamestown College (N.D.) 1; Central Methodist University (Mo.) 1; Northwood University (Texas) 1

* Rating from the 2007 final regular season poll.