UC Santa Cruz tops the 2024 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll, following a vote among the conference head coaches. The Banana Slugs, who are the three-time defending league champions, received 15 points and three first-place votes to lead the rankings.

Christopher Newport and Salisbury tied for second with 12 points and one first-place vote each.

Mary Washington ranked fourth with seven points, while Warren Wilson rounded out the poll with four points.

The 2024 season starts August 30 with the C2C Cross Country Championships hosted by Christopher Newport on Saturday, November 2. The meet will be held at Lee Hall Mansion in Newport News, Virginia. 

Below is a brief preview of each women's cross country team entering the 2024 season: 

UC Santa Cruz: After pulling off the three-peat at the C2C Championships last season with a perfect score of 15 points, UC Santa Cruz was picked first in the preseason poll as they embark on the 2024 season. The Banana Slugs return seven runners from last year's championship squad including the top three finishers from the C2C race in Helena Janku, Elena Stanciu, and Hanna Hekkanen. Janku won the individual championship with a time of 21:55 before leading the Slugs at the NCAA West Region Championships with a ninth-place finish in 22:37. Hekkanen also earned All-Region honors after taking 34th in last year's West Regional. The Slugs will also bring back a handful of All-Conference runners in Kenzie Seymour, Cheryl Chuang, Frieda Cedillo, and Faith Dyogi as they look to defend their crown. 

Christopher Newport: After placing second at the 2023 Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championships and seventh during the NCAA South Regionals, the Christopher Newport women's cross country team will look to take another step forward in 2024. Under the guidance of head coach Tyler Wingard, the Captains feature six veteran standouts and four newcomers. Among the most accomplished returners, Julia Kapp and Courtney Mudd both hauled in All-League laurels for their work last fall.

Salisbury: Fresh off a third-place conference finish and a seventh-place regional showing, the Sea Gulls bring a trio of top 60 regional finishers back into the fold. All-Region and First-Team All-C2C honoree Anna Bodmer is back for her sophomore year and will be flanked by regional standouts in Rachel Roberts and Madi Sisson.

Mary Washington: The Eagles bring back a veteran group that will look to push for all-conference honors. Among the returners are senior Jessica Oberlies, juniors Katherine Armstrong and Kendra White, and sophomores Eyaya Fletcher and Cameron Rico. Newcomers Maddie Binkley, Lily Hoffman, and Adeline Wallin will push for top times.

Warren Wilson: The Owls will be led by captain Tabitha McBrayer along with returners Aila Givins and Lura Torres in 2024.  WWC also expects contributions from a slew of incoming freshmen under new head coach Chris Stroup.