UMAC PREVIEW: Women's Cross Country
ST. PAUL, MN - With the 2022 cross country season officially getting underway, let's take a look at the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll.
The Martin Luther Knights are the coaches pick to win the conference for the second straight year. The Knights return three First Team All-Conference selections from a year ago in Abigail Hillmer, Maya Habben, and Hannah Kratz. All three were the top three runners on the team a season ago and all of them finished inside the top seven at the UMAC Championships last year. Hillmer finished second at the conference meet with a time of 24:42.6. Also returning for the Knights this season are Leah Nushart and Claire Tomhave who both finished insdie the top twenty at the UMAC conference meet.
Minnesota Morris comes in right behind the Knights for second place in this year's poll. The Cougars, similar to this poll, finished second last season as well. They advanced on to the NCAA Tournament to compete in the North Regionals and came in 28th place. Returning for the Cougars this fall are three of their top four runners from a season ago in Bri Hensel, Ilsa Hoaglund, and Zoe Hoaglund. Ilsa Hoaglund and Bri Hensel also finished in the top ten at last year's conference meet.
Bethany Lutheran comes in third in this year's poll after coming in third a year ago at the conference meet. Head Coach Micahel Dunn returns for this eighth season leading the Vikings cross country teams. The Vikings have finished anywhere from 3rd-6th in the previous six seasons as they look to take a step forward this season and crack the top two.
The Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets are the fourth team in this years poll. The Yellowjackets finished fourth at the conference meet a season ago. They also moved on to the NCAA Division III North Regional, finishing 31st. Returning for Superior this fall is All-UMAC Second Team selection Meagan Berg. Berg finished 13th at the UMAC championships a season ago. In total, the Yellowjackets return nine runners.
The Crown Polars are the fifth team selected in this seasons preseason poll. The Polars finished fifth last year at the conference meet. Third place finisher from the conference meet last year Abby Pausch returns for her junior season after posting a time of 24:47 in 2021.
Next up is the Northwestern Eagles, picked to finish sixth his season. The Eagles finished sixth at last year's conference meet. The Eagles have a completely revamped roster here in 2022 with a lot new faces and incoming talent. Head coach Steve Thiessen is in his 31st year leading the way for Eagles cross country.
The Rams of North Central are picked to finish seventh this season after not qualifying a season ago at the conference meet. The Rams return their top three runners from a year ago in Liz Lofstad, Kayley Hyland, and Tea Davis. Lofstad was a First Team All-UMAC selection a season ago and was also named an NCCAA All-American. She finished seventh at the UMAC conference meet with a time of 25:01.
Finally, the Northland Lumberjills are the team picked to finish eighth this season. The Lumberjills will have a lot of new faces this season as they don't return any runners from a season ago. First year head coach Kale Adams takes over the program in his first year at Northland.
Team Previews:
Bethany Lutheran College
Head Coach
Michael Dunn | 8th Year |
2021 Season
UMAC Finish: 3rd | 76 points |
Crown College
Head Coach
Bill Braunger| 7
th Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 5th | 108 Points |
- Postseason: Abby Pausch NCCAA National Meet 4th place 19:37/5K.)
Top Runners
- Runner 1, Abby Pausch, JR| UMAC Honors | Other Honors | 2019 Championships: 3rd 24:47| 1st |
- Runner 2, Greta Greniger, SO | UMAC Honors | Other Honors | 2019 Championships: 36th, 31:22, 5th |
Martin Luther College
Head Coach
Breanna Olson | 3
rd Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 1st | 44 Points |
Top Runners
- Abigail Hillmer, Sr. | 2021 1st TM All-UMAC| 2021 Championships: 2nd place, 24:42.6, # 1 team finisher |
- Maya Habben, Jr. | 2021 1st TM All-UMAC | 2021 Championships: 4th place, 24:48.3, #2 team finisher |
- Hannah Kratz, Sr. | 2021 1st TM All-UMAC | 2021 Championships: 7th place, 25:09.8, # 3 team finisher |
Need to Know
Leah Nushart, who finished 13
th place at the UMAC Championship Meet and Claire Tomhave who finished in 18
th place at the UMAC Championship Meet will also be returning this year.
North Central
Head Coach
Katie DeWitt | 2
nd Year |
Top Runners
- Liz Lofstad, Senior | 1st Team All-UMAC | NCCAA All-American | 2021 Championships: 7th, 25:01, #1 team finisher |
- Kayley Hyland, Senior | 2021 Championships: 26th, 28:01, #2 team finisher |
- Tea Davis, Junior | 2021 Championships: 46th, 30:20, #3 team finisher |
Northland College
Head Coach
Kale Adams | 1st Year |
2021 Season
Fastest Runners
- No returning runners from last year
University of Minnesota Morris
Head Coach
James Akita | 1st Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 2nd | 60 Points |
- Postseason: 28th place at North Regional
Top Runners
- Bri Hensel, Sophomore | 5th, 24:50, 1st on team |
- Ilsa Hoaglund, Sophomore | 10th, 25:46, 2nd on team |
- Zoe Hoaglund, Sophomore | 17th, 26:52, 4th on team |
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Head Coach
Steve Thiessen | 31
st Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 6th | 145 points |
Top Runners
- Emma Fashant, SO | First year as an Eagle, state meet experience in high school
- Caroline Ringsmuth, FR | Participated in cross county at Maple Grove high school
- Colene Grefe, FR | Participated in cross country with Kickapoo/La Farge high school
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Head Coach
Glen Drexler | 13th season |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 4th | 81 points |
- Postseason: Finished 31st in the NCAA Division III North Regional, scoring 867 points
Top Runners
- Meagan Berg, So. | 2021 All-UMAC Second Team | 2021 Championships: 13th, 25:56.8, 2nd team finisher |
- Jeanna Scanlon, So. | 2021 Championships: 20th, 27:01.3, 4th team finisher |
- Matti Johnson, Jr. | 2021 Championships: 24th, 27:39.3, 5th team finisher |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets return nine runners from last season and welcome six newcomers for 2022.