The 2017 Midwest Conference (MWC) women's cross country season gets underway on Friday, September 1 as six league teams will be in action. Four more programs open the season on Saturday, as St. Norbert College hosts the Tom Barry Invitational.

The St. Norbert College women's cross country team won its first Midwest Conference (MWC) championship since 2010 last fall, and the league coaches have picked them to do so again this season in the annual preseason coaches' poll.

The Grinnell College men's cross country team has been picked by the league coaches to win their sixth consecutive Midwest Conference (MWC) title.