NCC Women’s XC at AU Invite
Mark Black

Women's Cross Country

Women’s Cross Country 3rd in Pre-Championship Poll

Contact: Taiah Gallisath-Poklop, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302 

Oct. 28, 2026 – The North Central College women's cross country team is gearing up for the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Championships as the Cardinals landed the No. 3 spot in the annual coaches' pre-championship poll.

Polling Station

Illinois Wesleyan University topped the poll with 62 points and seven first-place votes while Elmhurst University was picked second with 51 points. North Central received one first-place vote and 50 points to sit third while Wheaton College picked up the final first-place vote and 44 points for fourth. Augustana College (37), Carthage College (34), Millikin University (22), Carroll University (15) and North Park University (9) round out the poll. 

Wheaton won the 2025 CCIW Championship team title with 38 points. Elmhurst and Illinois Wesleyan both scored 92 points, and are favored to be the top two programs this weekend.

Depth and Development

North Central has turned in a strong season, earning two team victories and three additional top-10 finishes in races featuring competition from all three NCAA divisions.

The Cardinals' depth has been on full display through the first six races of the season, with two different runners leading the team and steady improvement across the roster. Lily Anderson opened the season with individual victories at the NCCXC Invitational and Spartan Invitational before Mariangela Popoca emerged as North Central's top finisher in each of the last four races. Popoca earned her first collegiate victory at the Steve Travis Invitational and has continued to lead the Cardinals, showcasing the team's ability to rely on multiple runners at the front of the pack.

Rank 'Em

North Central enters the championship with two runners ranked among the conference's top four in the 6,000-meter run. Popoca clocked a season-best 22:23.9 at the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 16, while Dylan Moeller followed with a time of 22:43.8. Anderson also ranks among the conference's top 10 performers with a time of 23:07.0.

Anderson returns to the conference championships as a three-time All-CCIW honoree, while Popoca and Moeller are set to make their CCIW Championship debuts. Senior Marissa Magana also returns as a second-team All-CCIW honoree after earning the distinction last season. With its leading runners carrying momentum into the postseason and the rest of the roster continuing to improve, North Central will look to put together a strong team performance.

Making Moves

Just last season, the Cardinals finished fifth overall at the CCIW Championships, but the team's depth and continued development this fall provide an opportunity to climb the conference standings. With multiple runners capable of leading the team and a mix of championship experience and emerging talent, North Central will look to build on its progress and challenge for a spot among the conference's top teams.

The women's six-kilometer race of the CCIW Championships is slated for an 11 a.m. start followed by the men's eight-kilometer at 11:45 a.m. at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Ill. The Al Carius and Paul Olsen co-ed open race is set for 12:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony scheduled for 1:15 p.m. to close out the day. More information about the CCIW Championships can be found on the meet homepage at CCIW.org. 
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Players Mentioned

Lily Anderson

Lily Anderson

Senior
Marissa Magana

Marissa Magana

Senior
Mariangela Popoca

Mariangela Popoca

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Lily Anderson

Lily Anderson

Senior
Marissa Magana

Marissa Magana

Senior
Mariangela Popoca

Mariangela Popoca

Freshman