The Ohio Northern women's cross country team looks to build off last season's fourth-place effort at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships during the 2018 campaign under 10th-year head coach Jason Maus.

In 2017, the Polar Bears compiled an impressive 94-37 overall record, which included team titles at the Bluffton 5k and the Tiffelberg Invitational, and posted an upper division finish at the OAC Championships for the 16th consecutive season.

This season, Coach Maus and his staff welcome back nine lettermen and 13 student/athletes overall.

This year's roster will be complete with the addition of six incoming freshmen looking to make an impact in their first season at Ohio Northern. 

"We have a good mix of seniors and newcomers," Maus said. "We have some big roles to fill and are excited about the talent level of our returners and of our incoming freshmen class. We will be young and will have some ups and downs but I am optimistic about the upcoming season."

Coach Jason Maus and the women's cross country program will open their 2018 slate with a trip to the Bluffton 5k Invitational on Friday, August 31.

The team will also make stops at the Calvin (Mich.) Knight Invitational (Sept. 8), Pre-Regional Meet at Shelbyville, Ind., (Sept. 15), the All-Ohio Championships (Sept. 29), and the Wilmington Invitational (Oct. 12) during the regular season. 

The OAC Championships are scheduled for Saturday, October 27 in Alliance at 11 a.m.

The Polar Bears will then make a southwestern trek to Shelbyville, Ind., for the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional meet on November 10. Qualifying teams and individuals will advance from the regional affair to the NCAA Championships to be held November 17 in Winneconne, Wis..