WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Mount Union women's cross country team picked was picked to finish third in the Ohio Athletic Conference coaches preseason Poll.
 
The Purple Raiders picked up 54 votes earning a first place vote as well sitting one point behind second place Otterbein with 55 points and two first place votes while Ohio Northern leads the coaches' preseason poll with six first place votes and 61 points.
 
Mount Union will bring back two girls from the Great Lakes regional team in junior Taylor Hennessey (Madison) and sophomore Ava Hartman (Chardon / Beaumont) while adding in a mixture of newcomers with eight freshman.
 
Mount Union welcomes eight freshmen to the team as the team will start the season competing at the Panther Open at Schenley Park on Friday, August 29th hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.
 
2024 OAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Ohio Northern        61 (6)
2. Otterbein                55 (2)
3. Mount Union         54 (1)
4. Baldwin Wallace     43
5. Capital                    33
6. Muskingum             27
7. Heidelberg              24
8. Marietta                  14
9. Wilmington             13