For the third time in four years and sixth time overall, Wayne State College will host the Northern Sun Conference Cross Country Championships.  The 2022 version of the event will take place Saturday on the back nine of the Wayne Country Club with the men's race scheduled for an 11 a.m. start followed by the women's race at 12 p.m. due to frost and cold weather in the area.  14 teams will run in the men's 8,000-meter race and all 16 schools compete in the women's race that is 6,000 meters.  More information on the 2022 NSIC Cross Country Championships can be found at www.NorthernSun.org/NSICCC.
            The men's race features defending champion Augustana, who has won 11 of the last 12 NSIC Championships.  The Vikings are ranked 15th in this week's USTFCCCA National Cross Country Poll and ranked fourth in the Central Region.  Other NSIC men's teams ranked in the Central Region Top 10 are Sioux Falls seventh, Minnesota State ninth and Minnesota Duluth 10th.
            The Augustana women are the defending team champions and bring a #5 national ranking into the NSIC Championships.  The women's race showcases three other NSIC teams that are nationally ranked in Minnesota Duluth at #14, Minnesota State #16 and Winona State #17.  Winona State's Lindsay Cunningham is back to defend her individual title she won last year as a freshman.
            All teams will compete in the NCAA Central Regional Championship in Joplin, Missouri November 19th with this year's NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships set for Saturday, December 3 in University Place, Washington.