AMC Women's Cross Country Season Preview
September 2, 2020
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Columbia Cougars are picked to win their fourth-straight American Midwest Conference (AMC) women's cross country championship, the league announced Wednesday.
The Cougars finished 24th at the 2019 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships. Columbia returns four-of-the-top-five runners from that team. Briana Haller highlights the returnees, as she was the individual champion at the 2018 and 2019 AMC Championships. The Cougars return two other All-Conference runners in Mikayla Sehlmeyer and Grace Brinkmann.
Missouri Baptist finished third last year. The Spartans return six runners from that team, including three that finished in the top-20 last year - Emily Bayer (7th), Alyssa Jakcsy (8th) and Erin Tomschin (19th).
Hannibal-LaGrange finished as the runner-up in 2019. The Trojans are projected to finish third in 202. Hannibal-LaGrange returns three runners who finished in the top 17 at last year's Championships - Shelby Kallem (3rd), Lauren Sisco (4th) and Sarah Lacy (17th).
Slotted fourth is the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Eutectics. STLCOP returns Allison Wakeland who ran a sub-20 5k last year (19:18), Alyssa McPike and Brook Anthonies from last year's squad that finished 5th.
The Lady Eagles from Williams Baptist are picked fifth. The Eagles return Kyla Downes and Emily Weiss from 2019 who recorded two top-three team finishes last season.
Central Baptist, who finished 9th at the Championships last season tying their best finish at the Conference Championships, are picked sixth.
AMC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
William Woods and Lyon are not competing in the fall due to COVID-19.
AMC Women's Cross Country Conference Championship
The 2020 AMC Women's Cross Country Championships takes place on Nov. 6 at Francis Park in St. Louis, Mo. Championships Page
The Cougars finished 24th at the 2019 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships. Columbia returns four-of-the-top-five runners from that team. Briana Haller highlights the returnees, as she was the individual champion at the 2018 and 2019 AMC Championships. The Cougars return two other All-Conference runners in Mikayla Sehlmeyer and Grace Brinkmann.
Missouri Baptist finished third last year. The Spartans return six runners from that team, including three that finished in the top-20 last year - Emily Bayer (7th), Alyssa Jakcsy (8th) and Erin Tomschin (19th).
Hannibal-LaGrange finished as the runner-up in 2019. The Trojans are projected to finish third in 202. Hannibal-LaGrange returns three runners who finished in the top 17 at last year's Championships - Shelby Kallem (3rd), Lauren Sisco (4th) and Sarah Lacy (17th).
Slotted fourth is the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Eutectics. STLCOP returns Allison Wakeland who ran a sub-20 5k last year (19:18), Alyssa McPike and Brook Anthonies from last year's squad that finished 5th.
The Lady Eagles from Williams Baptist are picked fifth. The Eagles return Kyla Downes and Emily Weiss from 2019 who recorded two top-three team finishes last season.
Central Baptist, who finished 9th at the Championships last season tying their best finish at the Conference Championships, are picked sixth.
AMC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1 | Columbia (5) | 49 |
| 2 | Missouri Baptist (1) | 40 |
| 3 | Hannibal-LaGrange | 38 |
| 4 | STL College of Pharmacy | 31 |
| 5 | Williams Baptist | 23 |
| 6 | Central Baptist | 19 |
AMC Women's Cross Country Conference Championship
The 2020 AMC Women's Cross Country Championships takes place on Nov. 6 at Francis Park in St. Louis, Mo. Championships Page