SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– After finishing as the Great Lakes Valley Conference runner-up last year, the Drury women’s cross country team was picked for a third place finish this season in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.
The Panthers received 163 points in the poll for third. Lewis picked up 14 of 15 first place votes, along with 196 points and was selected as the favorite to win the conference title. Southwest Baptist was picked second with 167 points and Truman State had one first place vote and had 151 points for fourth.
Drury came in second at the GLVC Championships last season, matching their best finish at the event in program history. The Panthers lost their top three runners from last year to graduation but have five letter winners back and will integrate seven newcomers, including three transfers.
Head coach Luke Karamitros will enter his first year leading the program. Karamitros took over the cross country and track & field teams in January and led Drury’s indoor and outdoor track & field squads last spring.
Drury opens the season on Sept. 6 at the Bearcat Classic hosted by Southwest Baptist in Bolivar.
2024 GLVC WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
| Rank | School | Points (1st-place votes) |
| 1. | Lewis | 196 (14) |
| 2. | Southwest Baptist | 167 |
| 3. | Drury | 163 |
| 4. | Truman State | 151 (1) |
| 5. | Indianapolis | 150 |
| 6. | Illinois Springfield | 141 |
| 7. | Missouri S&T | 119 |
| 8. | Maryville | 97 |
| 9. | Missouri-St. Louis | 96 |
| 10. | Rockhurst | 92 |
| 11. | McKendree | 64 |
| 12. | Upper Iowa | 43 |
| 13. | William Jewell | 37 |
| 14. | Lincoln | 31 |
| 15. | Quincy | 28 |
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