Oklahoma State Women Are National Preseason No. 24

Women's cross country looks to capitalize on strong 2011 finish

The Oklahoma State women's cross country team will begin the 2012 season as the No. 24 in the nation, according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason polls released this morning. Oregon is No. 1.

The Cowgirls finished the 2011 season ranked No. 30 in the nation and at one point reached as high as No. 22.

Expected to lead the team in 2012 are three track and field All-Americans in Natalja Piliusina, Caileigh Glenn and Kate Kujawa and last year's Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Monika Juodeskaite.

The Cowgirls open the season this Saturday when they compete in the Hurricane Invitational in Tulsa, Okla.

Women's 2012 Preseason Ranking

1 Oregon 345 (4 1st place votes)

2 Washington 343 (5 1st place votes)

3 Georgetown 337 (2 1st place votes)

4 Florida State 334 (1 1st place votes)

5 Iowa State 289

6 Vanderbilt 277

7 Providence 270

8 Stanford 267

9 Syracuse 246

10 Villanova 226

11 Arkansas 222

12 Michigan 218

13 Colorado 210

14 Arizona 204

15 Princeton 196

16 Boston College 193

17 Michigan State 178

18 Virginia 163

19 Weber State 150

20 San Francisco 133

21 West Virginia 124

22 Notre Dame 112

23 Toledo 103

24 Oklahoma State 82

25 NC State 76

26 Texas 72

27 Minnesota 37

28 Brigham Young 35

29 Wisconsin 31

30 Cornell 25

Other teams receiving votes:

Florida 17, Penn State 16, LaSalle 9, New Mexico 9, North Carolina 7, Northern Arizona 7, Portland 7, Iowa 4, Texas A&M 3, Northwestern 2, Columbia 1.