NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Carthage College women's cross country team has been selected to finish sixth in the 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women's Cross Country Pre-Championship Poll, the conference announced Thursday. The 2026 CCIW Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31.
POLL RESULTS
- Illinois Wesleyan - 62 (7 first-place votes)
- Elmhurst - 51
- North Central - 50 (1 first-place vote)
- Wheaton - 44 (1 first-place vote)
- Augustana - 37
- Carthage - 34
- Millikin - 22
- Carroll - 15
- North Park - 9
The Firebirds enter the 2026 CCIW Championship race looking to make their mark against conference competition. Carthage was selected sixth in the preseason poll with 34 points, placing ahead of Millikin, Carroll, and North Park.
Illinois Wesleyan claimed the top spot in the poll with 62 points and seven first-place votes. Elmhurst followed in second with 51 points, while North Central finished third with 50 points and one first-place vote. Wheaton placed fourth with 44 points, followed by Augustana in fifth with 37 points.
The Firebirds will compete in the CCIW Championships at 11 a.m. on Saturday, at St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville, Ill. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.
