Cross Country August 19, 2025

UMW Women’s Cross Country Picked Seventh, Men’s Eighth in the 2025 Frontier Conference Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Polls

HELENA, Mont. – Montana Western women's cross-country squad was picked seventh and the men's team was picked eighth in earned the top spot in the 2025 Frontier Conference Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Tuesday.

"We are excited to race against strong opponents this season," UMW Head Coach Taylor Grove said. "The conference expansion added a lot of quality programs and it will be good for the team to face this level of competition."

The Bulldogs look to improve on last seasons' conference championships finish, where the women placed fourth and the men took home fifth.

The top returners on the women's side include all-conference performer Olivia Steadman, who placed 10th at the 2024 FC Championships with a time of 23:27.8. As a freshman in 2023, Steadman placed ninth at the league championships and qualified for the NAIA National Meet. Also back for the Bulldogs is Justene Santi, who finished 20th at last years conference meet with a personal-best 24:33.20.

The men's team sees juniors Harrison Silverio and Brant Heiner return. Silverio paced UMW at last season's conference championships, running to a 20th place finish with 27:02.00. Heiner, who placed 10th and earned an NAIA Nationals spot in 2023 with a 26:28.50, did not compete in 2024.

LOOKING AHEAD
Montana Western opens the season at MSU Bobcat Twilight Aug. 29. The men's race starts at 7:20 p.m. MT with the women's following at 7:45 p.m. MT.

2025 Frontier Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School (First Place Votes)	Total Points
1	Montana Tech (8)	97
2	Carroll (2)	89
3	Dakota State (1)	84
4	Rocky Mountain	75
5	Dickinson State	54
6	Bismarck State	53
7	Montana Western	45
8	Valley City State	43
9	Bellevue	28
10	MSU-Northern	20
11	Providence	17

2025 Frontier Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School (First Place Votes)	Total Points
1	Carroll (8)	98
2	Rocky Mountain (3)	87
3	Bellevue	79
4	Montana Tech	70
5	Dakota State	64
6	Bismarck State	57
7	Dickinson State	54
8	Montana Western	32
9	MSU-Northern	30
10	Valley City State	20
11	Providence	14

For complete coverage of UMW Cross Country and Track and Field, be sure to follow us on social media at @umw_xc_track (Instagram), @UMW_XC_Track (X), and @Montana Western Athletics (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!

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Players Mentioned

Justene Santi: 5' 5"; Junior

Harrison Silverio: Junior

Olivia Heiner: 5' 5"; Junior

Brant Heiner: Junior

Players Mentioned

Justene Santi
: 5' 5"; Junior

Harrison Silverio
: Junior

Olivia Heiner
: 5' 5"; Junior

Brant Heiner
: Junior