RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon College women's cross country program has entered the top 10 of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason rankings for the second consecutive season – and the second time in school history – as the Red Hawks begins the 2024 campaign ranked ninth in the North Region.
Ripon is just one of two Wisconsin schools outside of the UW System to be recognized, joining the eighth-ranked Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons. Last season, the Red Hawks began the 2023 campaign ranked 10th in the region.
UW-La Crosse, who finished 10th at the 2023 NCAA Championships, is ranked on top of the North Region to begin 2024. Defending NCAA champion Carleton sits in second, while St. Olaf, UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater round out the top five.
Last season, the Ripon women took third at the Midwest Conference Championships, highlighted by a pair of top-five individual finishers:
Alison DeNamur (runner-up) and
Jenny Cortes (fourth place). Both DeNamur and Cortes return in 2024; the pair are joined by a third All-MWC performer from last season in sophomore
Gabby Allard (18th place). Additionally, now-graduated
Mikayla Flyte became just the fourth Red Hawk woman in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships, joining Michelle Matter (2012), Brittney Dick (2006) and Lori Stich (1989, 90).
The 2024 season begins this weekend as Ripon travels to Green Bay for the Tom Barry Invitational on Saturday, August 31 at 10 a.m. The meet will be hosted by St. Norbert.
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