KANSAS CITY, Mo.-The MIAA has announced its 2025 men's and women's cross country preseason coaches polls. Newman men's cross country was picked 11th with 22 points, while the women's team was voted 12th with 27 points.

2025 MIAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Northwest Missouri [10] – 118 points
2. Pittsburg State [2] – 111 points
3. Nebraska Kearney – 95 points
4. Washburn – 91 points
5. Missouri Southern – 79 points
6. Central Missouri – 69 points
7. Missouri Western – 63 points
8. Fort Hays State – 59 points
9. Rogers State – 42 points
10. Emporia State – 32 points
11. Newman – 22 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 12 points
[#] - Number of First Place Votes
 
2025 MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [8] – 138 points
2. Rogers State [3] – 124 points
3. Fort Hays State – 111 points
T4. Nebraska Kearney [1] – 108 points
T4. Northwest Missouri – 108 points
6. Missouri Southern [1] – 94 points
7. Washburn – 83 points
8. Emporia State – 62 points
9. Central Missouri – 60 points
10. Missouri Western – 49 points
11. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 35 points
12. Newman – 27 points
13. Central Oklahoma – 15 points 
[#] - Number of First Place Votes

Head Coach Amber McVicar enters her second season leading the Jets. The men return six runners, including junior Jake Beauchamp, who was Newman's top finisher in three races last season. Beauchamp set his personal-best 10K at the NCAA DII Central Regional with a time of 32:12.9. Seniors Josias Chavez Ramirez, Reagan Longei, and Hunter Lough also return to anchor the squad.

On the women's side, nine returners are back, led by Alexa Ornelas and Nayelly Rosales. Ornelas paced the Jets in four races last season, highlighted by her personal-best 22:54 6K at the NCAA DII Central Regional. Rosales led the Jets twice in 2024 and posted a season-best 23:23 6K at the Bradley Pink Classic.

Newman opens the 2025 season at the JK Gold Classic on September 6 at Clapp Golf Course in Wichita. The Jets will also compete at the Southern Stampede, Cowboy Jamboree, and U of O Invitational before heading to the MIAA Championships on October 25 in Pittsburg, Kansas. NCAA Regionals follow on November 8 in Joplin, Missouri.