UNI cross country: MVC releases preseason poll

UNI cross country: MVC releases preseason poll

8/25/2023 12:42:00 PM | Cross Country

ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) announced the results of its preseason cross country polls on Friday ahead of the start of the 2023 season.

The UNI women were tabbed to finish sixth out of 12 teams this year, while the men were picked in a tie for eighth with Valparaiso. Belmont was selected as the preseason favorite to win the women's team title, with Drake voted to take the men's championship.

UNI returns seven from the 2022 team that finished seventh at the MVC Championships. Key returners include Emma Hoins, the Panthers' top finisher in the final three events of last season, including an individual time of 21:42 at the NCAA Midwest Regional, as well as veteran distance runners Kate Crawford, Sophia Jungling, Lauren Klein, Ella Popenhagen, Grace Schaefer and Kaylin Lacher. UNI added six new faces in the offseason, including Makenna Edwards, Eden Mueller, Brooke O'Brien, Greenlee Smock, Kaylee Woolery and Kayla Young.

On the men's side, the Panthers return three veterans from a ninth place finish at the MVC Championships, led by junior Brady Griebel, who also picked up College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors while finishing third or better among UNI runners in all five events. Also returning are juniors Drake Hanson and Caleb Shumaker, as do sophomore's Jayden Dickson, Drew Dombrosky and Kon Dut. UNI welcomes junior transfer Tyler Colvin to the roster, as well as six freshmen in Josh Gormley, Levi Hill, Caleb Kass, Chase Lauman, Collin Lillie and Carson Owens.

The Panthers open the 2023 season at the Cyclone Preview on Sept. 1. The women's 5K will commence at 8:30 a.m. CT, followed by the men's 6K at 9 a.m. CT.

WOMEN'S MVC PRESEASON POLL