The Wildcats received 119 points and earns the only spot in the poll for the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Wildcats competed in the 2011 NAIA National championship meet and finished in 25th-place.

This year’s team features a squad of 17 athletes including six seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and six freshmen. 

Baker opens up the 2012 season at home in the annual Maple Leaf Invitational at the Baldwin City Country Club with the women’s 4,000m race beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the men’s 5,000m race beginning at 10:55 a.m. with an awards presentation to follow around 11:30 a.m.

NOTES: (All information dates back to 1999) Six different programs have garnered the preseason No. 1-ranking, led by former NAIA member Malone (Ohio), who earned five preseason No. 1-rankings ... Four teams have started the season ranked No. 1 and gone on to win the national championship: Malone - 2007, 08 and 09; Virginia Intermont - 2005 and 06; Minot State (N.D.) - 2002; Life (Ga.) - 1999 and 2000 ... Southern Oregon tops the Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll for the second straight season ... There has only been one program that has been able to maintain the No. 1 ranking for an entire season with Malone accomplishing the feat in 2007 and 08 ... The top four teams in the 2012 Preseason Poll all received at least three first place votes...Southern Oregon has been ranked No. 1 12 times which ranks them fourth all-time.

-BAKER-