ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2024 Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday with the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
#1: UW-Superior Yellowjackets (49 Points, 7 First-Place Votes)
The Yellowjackets led the preseason poll with 49 points and seven first-place votes from their conference competitors. Last year, UW-Superior claimed their sixth UMAC title in 2023, scoring a conference and program-best 17 points in the UMAC title race.
After capturing the UMAC Championship, the Yellowjackets placed 20
th at the NCAA Division III North Regional.
Head Coach:
Top Returners:
- Zach Reese | Jr.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championship: Third team finisher, 29:23.9
- Kieran Johnson | Sr.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championship: Fifth team finisher, 29:43.0
- Aidan Doherty | Sr.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championship: Second team finisher, 29:10.1
#2: Martin Luther Knights (41 Points)
The Martin Luther College Knights placed second in the preseason poll with 43 points. MLC placed second in last year’s championship with 66 points.
Head Coach:
Top Returners:
- Micah Schibbelhut | Sr.
- Second Team All-UMAC (2022, 2023)
- 2023 Championships: 11th overall, 27:38.0, 3rd on MLC
- Elijah Hutchinson | So.
- Did not compete at 2023 UMAC Championships
#3: Crown Polars (35 Points, 1 First-Place Vote)
The Crown College Polars took third in the preseason poll with 35 points and the remaining first-place vote. Crown finished fourth at the 2023 championship with 121 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners
- Austin Carlson | Sr.
- 2023 UMAC All-Conference
- 2023 Championships: 5th, 26:43, #1 team finisher
- Andrew Deedon | So.
- 2023 Championships: 23rd, 28:58, #2 team finisher
- Caden Swoboda | Jr.
- 2023 Championships: 28th, 29:38, #3 team finisher
Tied #4: Bethany Lutheran Vikings (27 Points)
The Bethany Lutheran College Vikings tied for fourth place with Northwestern in the preseason poll with 27 points. Last year, BLC finished fifth in the UMAC Championship with 134 points.
Head Coach:
Top Returners:
- Josiah Hoppe | Sr.
- 2023 Championships: 19th place, 28:46.80, 1st on team
- James Younge | So.
- 2023 Championships: 20th place, 28:48.40, 2nd on team
- Noah Radloff | So.
- 2023 Championships: 46th place, 31:46.30, 5th on team
Tied #4: Northwestern Eagles (27 Points)
The University of Northwestern Eagles tied for fourth place with Bethany Lutheran in the preseason poll with 27 points. Last year, UNW finished third in the UMAC Championship with 97 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners
- Jacob Weddle | Sr.
- UMAC 2nd Team, All-Academic, NCCAA Scholar-Athlete
- 2023 Championships: 13th, 27:41.50, #1 team finisher
- Joshua Ringsmuth | So.
- 2023 Championships: 17th, 28:38.80, #2 team finisher
- Bennett Selfridge | Sr.
- UMAC All-Academic, NCCAA Scholar-Athlete
- 2023 Championships: 24th, 29:13.20, #4 team finisher
#6: Minnesota Morris Cougars (21 Points)
The University of Minnesota Morris Cougars took sixth in the preseason poll with 21 points. UMM finished seventh in last year’s championship with 169 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners:
#7: North Central Rams (17 Points)
The North Central University Rams placed seventh in the preseason poll with 14 points. In 2023, the Rams finished eighth at the UMAC Championship with 191 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners:
#8: Northland Lumberjacks (7 Points)
The Northland College Lumberjacks round out the preseason poll with seven points. Northland finished sixth at last year’s championship with 155 points.
In the postseason, the Lumberjacks placed 33
rd at regionals.
Head Coach:
Top Returners
- Brandon Faber | Jr.
- 2023 Championships: 27th, 29:31, #1 team finisher
- Teddy Uehling | Sr.
- 2023 Championships: 47th, 31:49, #5 team finisher
- Thomas Szymanski | So.
- 2023 Championships: 60th, 34:48, #9 team finisher
2024 Men’s Cross Country 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 2024 UMAC Men's Cross Country Championship will be held Saturday, November 2 in Winthrop, Minnesota. The athletes will be running an eight-kilometer course. The event will be hosted at the Winthrop Golf Club by Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, Martin Luther College, and University of Minnesota Morris.