HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference has announced the results of its 2025 Cross Country Coaches' Polls. The reigning champion Carroll Men were selected to finish first once again, while the Carroll Women landed in second place on the annual poll.

For the better part of the last decade, the Carroll Cross Country teams have been at - or near - the top of the Frontier Conference Cross Country standings at the season's end. Entering a 2025 season that will look a little different, one thing remains the same, and that is the respect of the league's coaches for the Fighting Saints.

The four-time defending Frontier Champion Carroll Men's team finished with 98 total points and eight first place votes to once again pace the conference in the preseason poll, with good reason. Coming off of a 2024 campaign which saw the Saints take 12th-place at the NAIA national meet, their best finish since 2015, Carroll returns a stable of All-Conference, and All-American, talent on the Men's side.

They'll look to make it five-consecutive Frontier Championships this Fall, and return the 2024 conference Individual Champion, Zack Gacnik (Conifer, Colo. / SR), to help anchor another competitive squad.

The Carroll Women saw their run of consecutive titles come to a close in the 2024 season, ultimately finishing second at the conference meet and finishing the season in the receiving votes portion of the NAIA National Poll, but are primed to make another run at the conference crown this November.

Both Isabelle Ruff (Concord, Calif. / JR) and Anna Terry (Chinook, Mont. / JR) return with a pair of All-Conference selections under their belts, and they'll be surrounded by plenty of talent ready to take the next step. 

The cross-country conference expanded with five new programs, Bellevue (Neb.), Bismarck State (N.D.), Dakota State (S.D.), Dickinson State (N.D.), and Valley City State (N.D.), bringing a total of 11 cross-country teams.

Both the Carroll Men and Women will kick-off their 2025 campaigns at the Bobcat Twilight meet, hosted by Montana State on Friday August 29.

The Frontier Conference championship meets will return to Amend Park in Billings on Friday, Nov. 7, with the time to be announced later.  The team winner will receive the Frontier Conference's automatic bid for the NAIA National Championships on Friday, Nov. 20 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams in the preseason poll.  First place is worth 10 points, second place is worth nine (9) points, third place is worth eight points (8) points, and down the list to last place with one point. 

Below are the complete 2025 Frontier Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Polls:
 
 

2025 Frontier Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank	School (First Place Votes)	Total Points
1	Carroll (Mont.) (8)	98
2	Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (3)	87
3	Bellevue (Neb.)	79
4	Montana Tech	70
5	Dakota State (S.D.)	64
6	Bismarck State (N.D.)	57
7	Dickinson State (N.D.)	54
8	Montana Western	32
9	MSU-Northern	30
10	Valley City State (N.D.)	20
11	Providence (Mont.)	14

2025 Frontier Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank	School (First Place Votes)	Total Points
1	Montana Tech (8)	97
2	Carroll (Mont.) (2)	89
3	Dakota State (S.D.) (1)	84
4	Rocky Mountain (Mont.)	75
5	Dickinson State (N.D.)	54
6	Bismarck State (N.D.)	53
7	Montana Western	45
8	Valley City State (N.D.)	43
9	Bellevue (Neb.)	28
10	MSU-Northern	20
11	Providence (Mont.)	17