Women's Cross Country 2026 Season Preview

The 14th-ranked Hope College women's cross country team is riding a surge into the 2026 season.

A strong kick at the finish to the 2025 cross country season propelled the Flying Dutch to a 26th-place effort at the NCAA Division III Championships in November after not qualifying for nationals in 2024.

Head coach Mark Northuis '82 is excited about what lies ahead this fall for his team, which garnered national accolades in the USTFCCCA preseason poll, first place in the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional rankings and the top spot in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

"I think last season really catapulted us through the track season," Northuis said. "Although we lost three top runners who went overseas to study, we still had a strong track season. Having them back with us now brings a new energy. I think they're very focused, and they're realizing what they can do and what they want to be able to do."

ROSTER

The Flying Dutch's roster of 38 features nine seniors, eight juniors, nine sophomores, and 12 freshmen.

Hope brings back three All-MIAA Second Team recipients, including all-region honorees Mary England of Kalamazoo, Michigan (Kalamazoo Central), a junior, and Dylan Ballin of Brookville, Ohio (Brookville). Sophomore Taylor Mitchell of Otsego, Michigan (Otsego) also earned All-MIAA Second Team accolades in 2025.

Seniors Grace Baldauff (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania / Northgate) and Olivia Ippel (St. Joseph, Michigan / St. Joseph), and sophomore Anna Sybenga (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) also return after running at the national meet. Ippel clocked the Orange and Blue's second-fastest run at nationals. Baldauff recorded the third-fastest effort, Sybenga the seventh.

Baldauff and England join senior Annika Sytsma (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Christian) as captains.

COACHING STAFF

Head coach: Mark Northuis, 38th season
Associate head coach: Brian VanZanten
Assistant coaches: Mike Northuis, Avery Lowe, Dan Campbell, Gabe DeYoung

SCHEDULE

Hope races into action on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. at The University of Olivet Comet Open at Broadway Acres Golf Course in Charlotte.

The Flying Dutch will run six more times during the regular season, including the Oct. 3 Carleton College "Running of the Cows" Invitational, a pre-national meet at the Bill Huck Championship Course in Northfield, Minnesota.

The MIAA Championships are Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. at Marshall Country Club in Marshall, Michigan.

The NCAA Great Lakes Regional is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at Michigan State University's Forest Akers Golf Course.

Carleton hosts the Division III national championships on Saturday, Nov. 21.

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