After ranking the men’s team No. 26 in the nation, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has ranked the women’s team No. 9.

The Cyclones’ ranking gives them the second-highest ranking in school history (No. 5, 2012). They are the highest ranked team in the Big 12, and one of three schools in the conference to crack the top-20.

This is the sixth-consecutive year that the team ranks inside the preseason top-30, and just the third time they have been ranked inside the top-10 in school history.

Iowa State returns three All-American runners this season. They are the only school in the country to return multiple All-Americans in 2014.

The Cyclones begin their season at the Bulldog 4K Classic on Friday. Competition is expected to begin at 5 p.m.