INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced its 2025 men's and women's cross country preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday, Aug. 26, with Drury picked to finish second and fifth, respectively, in the league. 
 
The men's cross country team earned 109 points and one first-place vote, placing just behind 2024 GLVC Champion Lewis, which topped the poll with 121 points and 11 first-place votes. Illinois Springfield (100 points), Missouri S&T (83), and Southwest Baptist (76) complete the top five teams in the men's poll.
 
The women's cross country team amassed 114 points, placing fifth in the poll. The Panthers sit behind the 2024 GLVC Champion Lewis, who earned the top spot with 169 points and 13 first-place votes. Southwest Baptist (149 points, one first-place vote), Illinois Springfield (140 points), and Truman State (132) round out the top five teams in the women's poll. 
 
Last season marked the men's cross country team's best season since 2010. The Panthers finished second at the 2024 GLVC Championship with 68 points. Junior all-region runner Tyler Harris returns for the Panthers for the 2025 season after placing third at the GLVC Championship with a time of 24:11.42. 
 
On the women's side, the Panthers fall to sixth in the preseason poll after back-to-back third-place finishes. Last season, the women finished sixth at the GLVC Championship with 184 points, placing just outside the top five. Joise Diffendaffer, who earned All-GLVC last year, returns for the Panthers after placing 18^th at the 2024 GLVC Championship with a time of 22:14.45. 
 
Head coach Luke Karamitros is back for his second season at the helm of the cross country program. Karamitros has managed five All-GLVC athletes, including one all-region, Tyler Harris.
 
The Drury cross country programs open their 2025 season on Sept. 5 at 9 a.m., competing at the Bearcat Invite. 
 
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