Illinois Wesleyan Voted Favorite to Capture 2026 CCIW Women’s Cross Country Championship
The stage is set for a tightly contested conference title race this weekend. Illinois Wesleyan University enters Saturday as the clear favorite, capturing 62 points and seven first-place votes from the league’s nine head coaches.
The upcoming 2026 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Women’s Cross Country Championship will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, at St. James Farm, with Carroll University serving as the host institution. The women’s 6K race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., followed by the men’s 8K race at 11:45 a.m.
Illinois Wesleyan Targets Second Conference Title
Illinois Wesleyan looks to secure its second conference title in program history, arriving at the championship after a strong regular season. Last year, the Titans finished tied as the runner-up with 92 points alongside Elmhurst University. This season, they lean on top performers like freshman Jordan Sutter, who holds the fastest recorded 6K time among CCIW runners at 22:18.9, set at the Interregional Invitational on Oct. 17. Teammates Maddie Morgan (22:45.9) and Alexia Spatz (23:15.1) have also posted competitive times at the same meet.
Elmhurst University was selected second in the poll with 51 points. The Bluejays are paced by Jessica Solar, who clocked a 22:23.7 at the Interregional Invitational, alongside Morgan Ashcroft (23:07.4) and Paige Rewerts (23:23.7).
North Central College sits closely in third with 50 points and one first-place vote. The Cardinals boast two of the conference’s top four individual times this season, with Mariangela Popoca recording a 22:23.9 at the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 16 and Dylan Moeller following at 22:43.8. Lily Anderson rounds out their top performers with a 23:07.0.
Defending champion Wheaton College rounds out the top four with 44 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Thunder enter Saturday seeking their third consecutive conference title after winning back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025. Wheaton returns Abby Rickard, the individual runner-up from last year’s championship who finished with a time of 22:34.2 and has posted a season-best 22:54.6 this fall.
Championship Field Rankings and Returning Runners
Behind the top four favorites, Augustana College was selected fifth with 37 points, and Carthage College placed sixth with 34 points. Both programs return notable individual talent from the 2025 championship, including Augustana’s Ryan Jednachowski, who placed sixth, and Carthage’s Kylie Florance, who finished fifth.
Millikin University landed in seventh place with 22 points, Carroll University eighth with 15 points, and North Park University ninth with nine points. North Park returns Marley Gandee, who placed fourth individually at the 2025 championship.
| Projected Place | Team | Points | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois Wesleyan | 62 | 7 |
| 3 | North Central | 50 | 1 |
| 4 | Wheaton | 44 | 1 |
Fans Access Branded Apparel Through Game One
Fans attending or following the event can access championship-branded apparel through the official partnership with Game One, an official merchandise provider and apparel supplier for the conference. Up-to-date schedule adjustments and event details remain accessible directly through CCIW Championship Central.
