The Pratt Community College women's cross country program was voted the No. 9 team in the nation by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The group was nominated for week one of the 2018 season. PCC women's cross country has not been nationally ranked since the 2015 season.

The Beavers were polled the nation's ninth best program due to their recent success in the Southern Stampede on Sept. 15. The Beavers finished ninth in the 5,000 meter competition. Pratt's average team time in the event totaled up to 20:26.

Pratt's average team time in the competition is what helped to earn them a spot in the top 10 of the national rankings. The fastest five individual performances from PCC were a large contributor to their achievements.  The Beavers were led by sophomore Aminata Kenyawani who placed second individually with a personal best of 18:42.4. Freshman Shantierra Jackson was the teammate closest to Kenyawani with a time of 20:32.7. Sophomores Anastasia Graves and LeeAsha Madison were the third and fourth best placers for the lady Beavers. Graves' time of 20:47.4 put her in sixty-sixth place. Madison placed sixty-ninth by running a 20:54.2. Sophomore Celeste Zamarron was also a top-five placer for Pratt with a time of 21:16.2.

"I am very excited for the women's team at this point in the year. They have been running and grinding in the heat every day. This first national ranking is going to boost morale and improve motivation each day to train harder than ever before," said head coach Eric Larson. "As we progress I will be looking for improvement in our pack between the second and fifth best runners and their overall times which will help us improve our overall position and move up in the rankings.

The next poll for national rankings will be released Oct. 3. Pratt will look to build upon their accolades when they compete in the Emporia State University Invitational on Oct. 6.