JACKS EDGE OUT BISON IN PRESEASON POLL

South Dakota State University Women's Cross Country was selected to win the Summit League Conference with a total of 60 points and received six of the nine first-place votes in a coaches' poll released in an announcement Tuesday by the conference office.

The Jackrabbits just narrowly topped one of their biggest conference rivals, the Bison from North Dakota State University (59 points) by a single point and three first-place votes.

Senior Anna Donnay was nominated as one of the two Summit League's 'Women's Athlete to Watch' on SDSU. Donnay took third overall at the 2020 league championships with a time of 21:58, helping the Jackrabbits secure league title and a low total of 22 points. Sophomore Leah Hansen was the second nominee for the women's squad as last year she earned All-League honors as the individual champion at the 2020 League Championship with a time of 21:45.60. Then, Hansen went on to claim a berth to the NCAA National Championships where she recorded a season-best mark in the 6K of 21:40.60.

2021 Summit League Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School	Points (1^st)
1.	South Dakota State	60 (6)
2.	North Dakota State	59 (3)
3.	South Dakota	51
4.	North Dakota	41
5.	St. Thomas	32
6.	Omaha	29
7.	Kansas City	24
8.	Oral Roberts	16
9.	Western Illinois	12

The Jackrabbits also received attention nationally as they were jotted down 12th in the Midwest Region in the latest USTFCCCA preseason poll released Monday. SDSU is the solo Summit League squad to be featured in the regional rankings.

For the entire women's preseason overview click HERE.

SDSU is scheduled to start competition at the Augustana Twilight on Sept. 8 with the gun going off at 8 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-

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Anna Donnay

Leah Hisken

Completed Event: Women's Cross Country versus NCAA Midwest Regionals on November 14, 2025 , , 10th of 32 -- 319

Completed Event: Women's Cross Country at Summit League Championship on November 1, 2025 , , 2nd of 8 -- 53

Completed Event: Women's Cross Country at Platte River Rumble on October 17, 2025 , , 3rd of 7 -- 82

Completed Event: Women's Cross Country at Pre-Nationals on October 17, 2025 , , 22nd of 38 -- 590

Completed Event: Women's Cross Country at Holiday Inn Express Classic on October 11, 2025 , , 3rd of 17 -- 76

Cancelled Event: Women's Cross Country versus SDSU Classic

South Dakota State University Athletics