NAPERVILLE, Ill. - As the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women's Cross Country Championships draw nearer, the conference released its coaches' pre-championship poll on Wednesday, with the Carthage women's cross country team slotted in a tie for fifth place with Augustana; each team received 28 votes in the poll. 

Women's cross country was voted to finish seventh in last year's pre-championship poll, and took eighth at the event. 

The Firebirds have put up impressive performances at the Elmhurst Earlybird Invitational and UW-Parkside Ranger Open this season, finishing in first and third, respectively. The team last competed on October 15 at the Augustana Interregional Invite, where it took 21st. 

Standings: 

    1. Wheaton - 64 (8) Points
    2. Millikin - 53 (1) Points
    3. North Central - 49 Points
    4. Illinois Wesleyan - 47 Points
    T5. Augustana - 28 Points
    T5. Carthage - 28 Points
    7. Elmhurst - 24 Points
    8. Carroll - 23 Points
    9. North Park - 8 Points