SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist women's cross country will begin the season as the No. 21 team in the country according the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) preseason national rankings. It is the first time OBU has started the season ranked in the Top 25 since the move to Division II.

The Lady Bison return four runners from last season's top 20 finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship, including All-American Sydney Lawrence. Joining Lawrence as scoring runners from last season's national meet are Emily Sechrist, Kaylee Large Crowson and Tesa Potter.

Entering the poll as the sole representative of the Great American Conference, OBU is also the only Oklahoma-based team in the preseason national rankings.

Oklahoma Baptist gets their season started on Saturday, Sept. 1 in Edmond at the Central Oklahoma Land Run on the campus of Edmond Santa Fe High School.