ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2024 Women’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 (47 Points, 5 First-Place Votes)
The Yellowjackets led the preseason poll with 47 points and five first-place votes from their conference competitors. Last year, UW-Superior won the 2023 UMAC Women’s Cross Country Championship with 43 points, placing three runners in the top five while nine of 11 runners achieved a personal-best race time.
After capturing their first UMAC Championship in program history, the Yellowjackets went on to finish 23rd at the NCAA Division III North Regional.
Head Coach:
Top Returners:
- Cora Hudella | Jr.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championship: UMAC leader, 23:02.5
- Halle Barker | Sr.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championship: Second team finisher, 23:44.9
- Tea Boerner | Sr.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championship: Third team finisher, 24:11.4
#2: Martin Luther Knights (43 Points, 3 First-Place Votes)
The Martin Luther College Knights placed second in the preseason poll with 43 points and the remaining three first-place votes. MLC placed second in last year’s championship with 61 points.
Head Coach:
Top Returners:
- Maya Habben | Sr.
- First Team All-UMAC (2021, 2022, 2023)|
- 2023 Championships: 6th overall, 24:36.7, First on MLC
- Katelyn Mensching | Sr.
- Second Team All-UMAC (2023)
- 2023 Championships: 10th overall, 25:00.1, 2nd on MLC
- Hope Sulzle | Sr.
- 2023 Championships: 19th overall, 26:06.5, 5th on MLC
#3: Crown Polars (36 Points)
The Crown College Polars took third in the preseason poll with 36 points. Crown finished third at the 2023 championship with 113 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners
- Ella Dufault | So.
- NCCAA DII XC National Champion
- 2023 Championships: 2nd, 23:15, #1 team finisher
- Ruth Brueckner | Jr.
- Lily Bandy | So.
- 2023 Championships: 31, 27:17, #3 team finisher
#4: Northwestern Eagles (30 Points)
The University of Northwestern Eagles placed fourth in the preseason poll with 30 points. Last year, UNW finished sixth in the UMAC Championship with 123 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners
- Caroline Ringsmuth | Jr.
- UMAC 1st Team (2023), All-Academic, All-Sportsmanship, 2nd Team (2022), qualified for NCCAA Nationals
- 2023 Championships: 7th, 24:44.30, #1 team finisher
#5: Bethany Lutheran Vikings (24 Points)
The Bethany Lutheran College Vikings placed fifth in the preseason poll with 24 points. Last year, BLC finished fourth in the UMAC Championship with 116 points.
At the NCAA DIII Regional, the Vikings finished 29
th overall.
Head Coach:
Top Runners:
- Kayla Tobin | Sr.
- 3x UMAC All-Conference
- 2023 Championships: 9th, 24:55.40, 1st on team
- Naomi Anderson | Sr.
- 2023 Championships: 27th, 26:57.60, 4th on team
- Angela Zaccaria | Sr.
- 2023 Championships: 39th, 28:41.50, 5th on team
#6: Minnesota Morris Cougars (23 Points)
The University of Minnesota Morris Cougars took sixth in the preseason poll with 23 points. UMM finished 5
th in last year’s championship with 122 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners:
- Sylvia Pesch | So.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championships: 9th, 25:05, #1 team finisher
- Ilsa Hoaglund | Sr.
- All-UMAC
- 2023 Championships: 15th, 25:23, #2 team finisher
- Zoe Hoaglund | Sr.
- 2023 Championships: 21st, 26:17, #3 team finisher
#7: North Central Rams (14 Points)
The North Central University Rams placed seventh in the preseason poll with 14 points. In 2023, the Rams finished seventh at the UMAC Championship with 155 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners
#8: Northland Lumberjills (7 Points)
The Northland College Lumberjills round out the preseason poll with seven points. Northland finished eighth at last year’s championship with 187 points.
Head Coach:
Top Runners
2024 Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. UW-Superior | 47 (5)
2. Martin Luther | 43 (3)
3. Crown | 36
4. Northwestern | 30
5. Bethany Lutheran | 24
6. Minnesota Morris | 23
7. North Central | 14
8. Northland | 7
The 2024 UMAC Women's Cross Country Championship will be held Saturday, November 2 in Winthrop, Minnesota. The athletes will be running a six-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.