MELBOURNE, FLA. The Sunshine State Conference released its 2025 Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, and the Nova Southeastern women's program finds itself right back where it finished last fall at the top. The Sharks are tied with Tampa for first place in the poll, while the men's team is projected to finish sixth.

The women earned their spot after making history in 2024, winning the first Sunshine State Conference Championship in program history. The Sharks put together a dominant performance at the league meet, led by Jillian Thorning, who not only claimed the individual title but was also recognized as the SSC Women's Runner of the Year. Thorning became the third Shark to ever win the SSC Championship race and the first to earn Runner of the Year honors in more than a decade.

Behind Thorning, NSU's depth carried them across the finish line as champions, and that momentum has the Sharks positioned as co-favorites heading into the 2025 campaign.

On the men's side, NSU checks in at sixth in the preseason rankings, looking to build on last year's growth and make strides up the standings this fall.
 

2025 SSC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON COACHES POLL 

Rank	Team	Total (First Place Votes)
1	Florida Southern	81(9)
2	Tampa	69
3	Embry-Riddle	67(1)
4	Florida Tech	51
5	Palm Beach Atlantic	48
6	Nova Southeastern	45
7	Lynn	32
T8	Barry	24
T8	Saint Leo	24
10	Eckerd	9

 

2025 SSC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Rank	School	Total (First Place Votes)
T1	Tampa	59 (5)
T1	Nova Southeastern	59 (4)
3	Florida Southern	52
4	Palm Beach Atlantic	41
5	Embry-Riddle	39
6	Lynn	28
7	Barry	21
8	Saint Leo	17
9	Eckerd	8

The Nova Southeastern Cross Country teams kick off their 2025 campaign at the Keiser University Cross Country Invitational in West Palm Beach on Friday, Sept. 5.

To stay up-to-date on Sharks Cross Country, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter at NSU_XCTF.