AUGUSTANA TOPS NSIC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Augustana University was picked to win the NSIC in the preseason women's cross country coaches' poll. The Vikings received 10 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and tallied 220 points to edge the four-time defending champions of the University of Mary.  The Marauders tallied 216 points and the other six first place votes.  Winona State was third with 183 points while Minnesota State was fourth with 173 points. 

Augustana's Nicolette Schmidt was named NSIC Preseason Athlete of the Year. Schmidt is coming off a 2019 season where she was the highest finisher for the Vikings at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, finishing 43rd overall. She also finished third at the Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships in 2019 and ninth at the NSIC Championships.  

The 2021 NSIC cross country season gets underway on Friday, September 3 with the regular season culminating on Saturday, October 23 at the NSIC Cross Country Championship held in Wayne, Nebraska, hosted by Wayne State College. The NCAA Central Regional will be held on Saturday, November 6 in Joplin, Missouri while the NCAA National Championships will take place on November 20 at The Abbey Course in St. Leo, Florida. 

PRESEASON ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

• Recorded the highest finish for the Vikings at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in 2019 finishing 43 overall just outside of All-America honors
• She also finished third at the Division II Central Region Championships in 2019 and was ninth at the NSIC Championship
• Schmidt earned first-team All-America honors in the mile at the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships placing sixth
• In the 2021 outdoor season, Schmidt ran a personal-best 16:30.16 that ranks fourth on Augustana’s outdoor all-time list

SEASON PREVIEWS & PLAYERS TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

The Augustana Vikings, who placed sixth at the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, have a lot to be excited for. With all seven runners returning from that group, and the addition of two signing classes, the Vikings will look to their depth to lead them into the championship season. The highest placing returner for the 2019 team, Nicolette Schmidt has gotten more national championship exposure earning All-America honors in both the open mile and the distance medley relay in the indoor season. All seven of the Vikings finished within thirty seconds of one another at the national meet which better exemplifies the depth Augustana has. Patty Jo English, who placed 62nd at the national meet and sixth on the team, has also gained more national recognition competing in both the indoor and outdoor national meet in 2021 along with setting the school record in the mile indoors at 4:51.91 and the 5,000m outdoors running 16:20.53.

• Recorded the highest finish for the Vikings at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in 2019 finishing 43 overall just outside of All-America honors
• She also finished third at the Division II Central Region Championships in 2019 and was ninth at the NSIC Championship
• Schmidt earned first-team All-America honors in the mile at the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships placing sixth
• In the 2021 outdoor season, Schmidt ran a personal-best 16:30.16 that ranks fourth on Augustana’s outdoor all-time list

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

Bemidji State Cross Country hits the course once again in 2021 with sights set on one of its best seasons in recent history. Head Coach Kevin Kean begins his seventh season with the program that features sophomore Zoey Mills, BSU’s Athlete to Watch. Mills, a local product from Blackduck, Minn., will run in her first season of cross country with the Beavers after competing in indoor and outdoor track during 2021. She set the program’s fifth-best time in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 19:05.25. Returning as a senior is Ryne Prigge, who holds BSU’s 4K and 5K cross country program records and ranks second all-time at BSU in the 6K. She finished 47th at the 2019 NCAA Central Regional with a personal record time of 22:48.90 in the 6K, which ranks as the highest finish for a Beaver at the NCAA Regional meet since at least 2002.
The Beavers will open their five-meet schedule Sept. 10 with a meet day at the Dragon Twilight in Moorhead, Minn. BSU will follow with races at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 24, the Waxlax Invitational on Oct. 8, the NSIC Cross Country Championships on Oct. 23 and the NCAA Central Regional on Nov. 6.

• Set personal record of 19:05.25 in the 5,000m run during 2021 outdoor track season
• Outdoor track time in 5K ranks fifth all-time at BSU
• Making first appearance in competition for BSU cross country in 2021

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

Concordia-St. Paul women's cross country is a program that has been on a steady ascent in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, improving or maintaining its place on the leaderboard at the NSIC Championships every year since 2015. The Golden Bears, ranked 14th in the then-15 team league in 2015, have climbed up to ninth place in the most recent 2019 NSIC Championships. The team chemistry has also grown along with the roster, more than doubling in size between those years. 
Concordia will look to fill the void left by one of its most decorated runners with the graduation of 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team selection Kara Lindberg, who finished 27th in her final NSIC Cross Country Championship race in 2019, adding a pair of top-5 finishes that same season.
The program is led by the steady leadership of head coach Jonathan Breitbarth, who will be inducted into the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. He is aided by Matt Buns, who was promoted to associate head coach of the program during the summer of 2021 in recognition of his steady contributions to the program from both a coaching and recruiting standpoint.
Concordia opens the season on Friday, September 3 at the Augie Twilight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the schedule once again features the program's top local meet at the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota on September 24.

• Competed in four races for the Golden Bears as a true freshman in 2019
• Was CSP's eighth-ranked finisher at the 2019 NSIC Cross Country Championships with a PR of 26:37.5 in the 6k
• Produced a PR 5k time of 21:40.5 at the Trent Smith Invitational in the 2019 Trent Smith Invitational
• Placed 4th in the 3k with a PR of 11:47.95 at the MSU Triangular in the 2021 indoor track & field season
• Placed 6th in the 3k steeplechase with a PR of 12:18.16 at the Tommie Twilight in the 2021 outdoor track & field season

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

Four-time defending Northern Sun champion University of Mary returns a deep team from the Marauders 2019 squad, including four of the top seven finishers at the last conference meet and five all-conference performers. The Marauders also return several key members from three straight top-5 finishes at the NCAA championships, which included back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018. 
FIve-time All-American Taylor Hestekin returns as a key cog in the last two NSIC championship teams. The senior from Scanton, ND, is a two-time All-NSIC performer after placing 4th in 2018 and 6th in 2019. She earned All-American honors in cross country in 2018 after placing 29th to help the Marauders claim 2nd in the country. 
All-NSIC runners Lacey Feist, Starlynn Costa and Taryn Ceglowski join Hestekin in proving senior leadership for the Marauders. Feist is a 2-time all-conference runner who placed 46th in the nation in 2018. Costa placed 5th at the 2019 NSIC championships and 69th at nationals. Ceglowski was a 2-time all-league performer at Sioux Falls before joining UMary last year.
As freshmen for UMary in 2019 Kayla Ogle and Kiran Green both had outstanding seasons. Ogle was the NSIC Newcomer of the Year after pacing second in the NSIC while Green placed 7th at the conference meet to earn All-NSIC honors.  
One new look for the Marauders is the elevation of Jamison Dietrich to interim head cross country coach after longtime UMary head coach Dennis Newell took a coaching position at NCAA Division I North Dakota State. A former Marauders scholar-athlete, Dietrich joined UMary as an assistant coach last season. 

• Two-time Northern Sun all-conference performer in cross country
• Helped extend the Marauders streak of NSIC cross country team titles with a 4th place finish in 2018 and a 6th place finish at the conference meet in 2019
• Earned All-American honor after placing 29th in 2018
• Part of a Marauders squad that placed 2nd in the country in 2018 and 5th in 2019
• Hestekin is a 5-time All-American in her cross country and track & field career

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

The Minnesota Crookston women's cross country team is looking to show continued improvement in their third season as a program under Head Coach Steven Krouse. The team saw the 2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19 and are excited for the 2021 season. Minnesota Crookston is led by a trio of true freshmen who all look to be in the scoring mix right away. The Golden Eagles are led by Anna Grabowski (Fr., Waterdown, Ontario). In addition, Madison Elijah (Fr., Hebron, Ind.), and Lily Ellingson (Fr., Apple Valley, Minn.) look poised to contribute in their first seasons. 

• Placed 17th at the Western Ontario Cross Country Championship in 2020 with a time of 25:23.3
• Ran the 5,000m in 20:29.5 as a sophomore
• Competed for Waterdown District High School in Ontario

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

After no cross country season in 2020 due to COVID-19, the University of Minnesota Duluth women’s cross country team is looking forward to competing this fall. The team, who placed 5th overall at the NSIC Conference Championship in 2019, will return its top three runners from the 2019 NSIC Championship: Mackenzie Hall, Morgan Radel, and Alex Robran. Hall had the best result for the Bulldogs at that event, coming in 18th, a performance that landed her second team All-Conference honors.She placed 34th at the Central Region Championship that year as well. Hall also ran PRs in the 3000 meters indoors and 5000 meters outdoors. Radel ran a PR in the 5000 meters outdoors, and Robran ran PRs in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters outdoors last spring. Outdoor All-American Haleigh Reindl, Isabelle Brezinka, Elizabeth Kyes, Anna Palodichuk, Julia Nielsen, and Lauryn Renier also return from very good outdoor seasons and anchor a strong returning group of runners. Along with an exciting incoming freshman class, the team has the pieces and potential to go into the end of the season with momentum!

• Came in 18th at the NSIC Conference Championship in 2019
• Placed 34th in the Central Region Championship in 2019
• Ran a personal best 6K at the Central Region Championship with a time of 22:34.9
• Named to 2019 NSIC Fall All-Academic team

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

Veteran head coach Jen Blue welcomes back six veterans, plus a group of underclassmen who joined the program in the fall of 2020 but were unable to compete due to the global pandemic. Blue, who has guided the Mavericks since 2000-01, leads a squad that includes six student-athletes with varsity experience at MSU in sophomore Maggie Anderson, sophomore Skylar Bragg, junior Amanda Montplaisir, sophomore McKenna Thurston, junior Paige White and sophomore Kylie Wright.  Montplaisir (50th), Thurston (58th) and Bragg (184th) all have NCAA regional meet experience, having helped the Mavericks to a sixth-place finish in 2019.
Newcomers include freshmen Makayla Bishop, Madelin Bruessel, Kate Bucher, Marisas Ellenbecker, Chloe Falkena, Carolyn Haar, Melanie Illies, Gracie Mallak, Megan Narveson, Alyssa Rauk, Madelyn Skjeveland, Emma Ward and Ashlin Young. Junior Mackenzie Gaherty is a product of the women's cross country program at Iowa Central.
Minnesota State is slated to kick-off the 2021 season Sept. 3 at the Augie Twilight meet in Sioux Falls, S.D.

• Competed in six events for Minnesota State during course of sophomore season in 2019
• Posted a 4th-place finish at Trent Smith Invite with a time of 19:16 (5K)
• Registered a 53rd-place finish at 2019 NSIC Championship with a time of 24:28.38 (6K)
• Placed 50th at the 2019 NCAA DII Central Region Championship with a clocking of 22:50.76 (6K)

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

The MSUM women will be young in 2021 with just one senior, Caleigh Anderson. Anderson, junior McKenzie Maki and sophomore Jensen Bloom all competed at the NSIC Championships in 2019, when MSUM last competed in cross country.  Freshman Payton Lane, who competed in track a year ago, is expected to be a top runner for MSUM. She had a pair of sixth-place finishes in the 5K at the NSIC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.  The team will feature several freshmen looking to contribute immediately. 

• Finished 6th in 5K at NSIC Outdoor Championships 
• Also finished sixth in 5K at NSIC Indoor Championships
• Had two wins during 2021 track seasons

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Sarah Fowler, the Minot State women will look to their youth to lead the way this fall. Despite being limited in numbers, the Beavers will run as a strong pack and as they look to be a top team in the NSIC. 

• Began her collegiate competitive career running indoor and outdoor track and field in the winter and spring of 2021
• Best finished came at the Dave Little Alumni Mile, a 2nd-place finish in the 5K in 18:36.21
• Added a 5th-place finish in the indoor mile in 5:31.89 at the Myreley Hanson Open
• Was 6th in the outdoor 1,500 in 5:10.73 at the Grand Valley State Meet

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

The Northern State University women’s cross country team opens the 2021 season under the direction of first year distance coach Megan Kuehl. The Wolves took tenth as a team from the 2019 NSIC Championships with an average time of 24:41.33. Northern returns five from their 2019 squad and welcomes six since 2020. Megan Mooberry was tabbed as the team’s runner to watch this season. Harrison earned second team all-conference honors in 2019. The Wolves will kick-off the 2021 campaign on September 3rd at the Augustana Twilight.

• Holds personal bests of 19:32.50 in the 5k and 23:36.40 in the 6k
• Finished 62nd and 93rd at the NSIC and NCAA Central Region Championships in 2019

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

After a strong track and field season in 2020, the USF Women's Cross Country Team, directed by Director of TF/CC Program Doug Petersen, will look to make some noise at the NSIC Cross Country Championships in 2021. The Cougars will try and match its program-best mark of fourth at the 2018 NSIC Championships.   It is a team led by NSIC Athlete to Watch redshirt sophomore Lauren Wells, who has five top-seven track times in USF history. She finished 95th at the NCAA DII Central Region meet in 2019 with her fastest 6K time of the year. She was 50th at the NSIC Championships as the Cougars placed eighth with 239 points. Sophomore Khot Juac (Sioux Falls, S.D.) is poised to make an impression after an outstanding spring track season with USF’s fourth best 5K all-time (18:02.46) and the third best 1500 meters (4:40.62). USF is a team that will also look to its youth to step up with such athletes as Karlee Simmons (R-So., Keystone, S.D.), Annika Aho, Tianna Voigt (R.Jr., Pelican Rapids, Minn.), Cassidy O’Meara (Jr., Moorhead, Minn.) and freshman Morgan Gehl (Fr., Fulda, Minn.), Jessica Lutmer (Fr., Pierre, S.D.) and Ella Kolb (Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D.).  

• Ranks fourth best all-time at USF in 5K all-time (18:02.46)
• Sits third on the USF all-time list for 1500 meters (4:40.62)
• Has recorded top 10 finishes in track and field

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s cross country team, under the direction of third-year head coach Kirk Nauman, features a roster of one senior, one junior and five true freshmen. The lone senior is Abby Schotter, who is a three-year letter winner and has competed in three NSIC Championships. Junior Caitlyn Regan will be one of the top runners for this season’s team after solid first season with SMSU during the indoor and outdoor track seasons in 2021. 

• Redshirted in 2020
• Competed last season in both indoor and outdoor track
• Placed ninth in the 800 at the 2021 NSIC Indoor Championship

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

The St. Cloud State University cross country team is ready to get back on the course after missing 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a seventh place finish in 2019, the Huskies are looking for another top-10 finish at the NSIC Championship in 2021 and will be led by none other than junior Cheresa Bouley (Zimmerman, Minn. / Zimmerman). Bouley has been a top-5 runner for St. Cloud State since joining the team in 2019, often serving as either the first or second Husky to cross the finish line. As a first year, Bouley finished 35th at the NSIC Championships with a time of 23:49.11 and also recorded a top-100 finish at the NCAA Regional a few weeks later. Also joining Bouley from the 2019 team are Erica Conrad (Ashwaubenon, Wis. / Ashwaubenon), Marianna Guerra-Reese (Hugo, Minn. / White Bear Lake), Isabella Kraft (Bismarck, N.D. / Bismarck), Jassye Todd (Elmwood, Wis. / Illinois State) and Clara Welhouse (Green Bay, Wis. / Southwest).

• Top-50 finisher at 2019 NSIC Championships; finished in 35th with time of 23:49.11
• Top-100 finisher at 2019 NCAA Regionals; finished 78th with time of 23:12.8
• 2021 Myles Brand Award Winner; 3x Academic All-Conference honoree

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

Upper Iowa’s women’s cross country team is ready to return to courses across the Midwest this fall. The Peacocks are prepped to improve on their 14th-place finish in 2019 when they averaged a time of 26:10.07 for their 6K race to place ahead of a pair of conference opponents. 
Madison Brownrigg returns for her final cross country season to lead the Peacocks. Brownrigg placed 80th at the 2019 NSIC Championships in a time of 25:10.92. Brownrigg saved her best race for last in 2019 when she broke a four-year old program record by over 23 seconds. The Cleveland, Ohio product placed 73rd at the NCAA Central Regional finishing her 6K in a time of 23:09.0.
Upper Iowa will open their competition on Friday night, Sept. 3 at the Augie Twilight hosted by Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Peacocks will compete in four races prior to the NSIC Championships including the Roy Griak Invite hosted by the University of Minnesota on Sept. 24. 

• Led the team in all six events during the fall of 2019
• Set a program record in the 6K with a time of 23:09.9 at the 2019 NCAA Central Regional

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

After having the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19, the Wayne State women’s cross country team will feature a mix of veterans and newcomers that will make up the 2021 team in hopes of improving on a 12th place finish at the 2019 NSIC Championships held in Wayne.  Four veterans and five newcomers who have never competed in a collegiate meet make up the 2021 Wildcat roster.  Senior Allie Rosener is the top returner for the Wildcats after finishing as Wayne State’s top runner at three meets as a sophomore in 2019.  Other veterans returning for Wayne State include juniors Andrea Torres, Marin Jetensky and Amanda Mote.  Veteran Wildcat head coach Marlon Brink will rely on five freshmen to compete immediately and bring balance and depth to the Wildcat roster.  The group includes Brooke Solomon, Kelsey Larsen, Annie McCartney, Kylie Pachta and Alison Stineman.  Wayne State opens the season on Friday, September 3rd at the Augustana Twilight Invite.  The Wildcats host two meets this season – the Wildcat Classic on Friday, September 24th and the Northern Sun Conference Championships on Saturday, October 23rd.      

• Top WSC runner at three meets in 2019 season
• Two Top 15 finishes
• Fourth at 2019 Wildcat Classic (20:12)
• 13th at Briar Cliff Invite (19:56)

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Winona State University women's cross-country team is keen to start the 2021 Warrior campaign, under the director on new head coach, John Hibshman. 
WSU will be paced by Lindsay Cunningham, picked as the Winona State Cross Country Athlete-to-Watch this year.  Also a Warrior standout in track and field, Cunningham claimed a fifth place NSIC 5K finish in the 2021 Winona State track and field season. Overall, WSU is a young team with two-thirds of the squad in their junior year or younger. 
The Warriors will test themselves against strong competition early in the 2021 season, traveling to events at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, the University of Minnesota and at St. Cloud State University.   The NSIC hosts the 2021 Cross Country Championships in Wayne, Neb. on Saturday Oct. 23, where WSU will be looking to earn a trip to the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships on Nov. 6. 

• Had a great outdoor track season, lowering mile time by over 20 seconds
• Earned a 5th place finish in the NSIC 5K Championships in spring, 2021
• Was a key part of the highly successful 2021 Winona State indoor and outdoor track and field seasons