The University of Illinois Springfield women's cross country team has been projected to finish sixth in the 2024 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) preseason coaches' poll, as announced by the league office on Friday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
Last season, the Prairie Stars finishedfifth of fourteen teams at the conference meet, showing promise with several strong individual performances at the GLVC Championship and the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional.
The 2024 season will see UIS relying on its mix of returning talent and new faces to push the team further up the standings. Madelyn Miller is the team's sole All-GLVC returner.
UIS will serve as the host institution for the 2024 GLVC Cross Country Championships, set to come to campus on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The Prairie Stars will open the season with the Hy-Vee Prairie Stars Invitational on Friday, Sept. 6.
2024 GLVC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
| Rank | School | Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1 | Lewis | 196 (14) |
| 2 | Southwest Baptist | 167 |
| 3 | Drury | 163 |
| 4 | Truman State | 151 (1) |
| 5 | Indianapolis | 150 |
| 6 | Illinois Springfield | 141 |
| 7 | Missouri S&T | 119 |
| 8 | Maryville | 97 |
| 9 | Missouri-St. Louis | 96 |
| 10 | Rockhurst | 92 |
| 11 | McKendree | 64 |
| 12 | Upper Iowa | 43 |
| 13 | William Jewell | 37 |
| 14 | Lincoln | 31 |
| 15 | Quincy | 28 |