WINTHROP, Minn. - This Saturday, November 2, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Men's Cross Country Championship will take place at 12:00pm at the Winthrop Golf Club where all eight conference teams will compete in an 8k for the conference title.
All important information for spectators including parking, concessions, course maps, and event schedule are available on the
championship page.
Championship History
- Last season, the University of Wisconsin-Superior won their sixth UMAC Championship in program history. The Yellowjackets ran an average time of 26:22.9 with a team score of 17 points: just two points away from a perfect score. UWS was led by Michael Butterfield, who finished first overall as the Individual Champion with a time of 25:45.4; the fastest UMAC championship-winning time since Yellowjacket alumnus Jackson Lindquist won the individual title in 2016 with a time of 25:43.5. In his title run, Butterfield broke his career personal best time of 25:54.2 by 8.8 seconds.
- The Martin Luther College Knights were the runner-up at the 2023 UMAC Championship with a team score of 66. The Knights were led by Caleb Lash, who placed sixth overall with a time of 26:58.5.
- The most recent current UMAC member besides UW-Superior to win the team championship was Martin Luther, who last won the title in 2008.
This Season
- Zachary Reese of UW-Superior has the top 8k time this season in the UMAC. The Yellowjacket’s senior ran the 8k in 26:31.5 at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational on October 4, setting the top UMAC time this fall. Reese won two UMAC Athlete of the Week awards this season. At last year’s conference championship, Reese placed third by 30.4 seconds.
- Out of the top times for each team, the Crown College Polar’s had the next best. Austin Carlson ran the 8k in 27:21.0 at the St. Olaf Invite on September 21.
- Seven of the eight UMAC teams competed at the St. Olaf Invitational on September 21. At that meet, UW-Superior had the top UMAC finish with an average time of 28:29. Martin Luther followed with an average time of 30:13. Crown had the third-best UMAC team time with an average of 33:19.
2024 Top Times (8k) by Team
| School |
Name |
Time |
| Bethany Lutheran |
Josiah Hoppe |
30:25.8 |
| Crown |
Austin Carlson |
27:21.0 |
| Martin Luther |
Elliot Heiderich |
28:16.2 |
| Minnesota Morris |
Noah Johnson |
29:40.5 |
| North Central |
Garrett Converse |
28:42.9 |
| Northland |
Brandon Faber |
34:50.0 |
| Northwestern |
Jacob Weddle |
27:53.8 |
| Wisconsin-Superior |
Zachary Reese |
26:31.5 |
2024 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. UW-Superior | 49 (7)
2. Martin Luther | 41
3. Crown | 35 (1)
t4. Bethany Lutheran | 27
t4. Northwestern | 27
6. Minnesota Morris | 21
7. North Central | 17
8. Northland | 7
The UMAC is an NCAA Division III member comprised of eight full-time member schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin: Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, Martin Luther College, North Central University, Northland College, University of Minnesota Morris, University of Northwestern, and University of Wisconsin-Superior.