Preseason NSIC Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll Release 8/18/22

            The Wayne State College women's cross country team was picked to finish 12th in the 2022 Preseason NSIC Coaches' Poll released Thursday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  The Wildcats received 68 points in voting done by league coaches and returns four runners from last year's team that placed 12th at last year's NSIC Championships held in Wayne.
            Defending NSIC champion Augustana was the unanimous selection as the team to beat in NSIC women's cross country this season, receiving 225 points and 15 first-place votes.  Minnesota Duluth came in second at 197 points just ahead of third place University of Mary with 196 points and the remaining first place vote (coaches can not vote for own team).
            Minnesota State was fourth at 183 points followed by Winona State (180), Sioux Falls (153), Northern State (139) and MSU Moorhead eighth at 126 points.
            Minot State (107) edged St. Cloud State (105) for ninth place in the poll with Bemidji State 11th at 81 points and Wayne State 12th with 68 points.  Rounding out the coaches' poll were Concordia-St. Paul (51), Upper Iowa (47), Southwest Minnesota State (46) and Minnesota Crookston (16).
            Listed as Wayne State's Athlete to Watch this season is junior Brooke Solomon (Yankton, S.D.)  Solomon was Wayne State's #2 runner in all six meets last season and posted a pair of top 10 finishes – eighth at the Wildcat Classic and 10th at the Morningside Invite.
            Wayne State opens the 2022 season at the Augustana Twilight Invite on Friday, September 2nd in Sioux Falls.
 
2022 Preseason NSIC Women's Cross Country Coaches Poll
1.         Augustana (15)                          225 pts.
2.         Minnesota Duluth                      197 pts.
3.         University of Mary (1)                 196 pts.
4.         Minnesota State                        183 pts.
5.         Winona State                            180 pts.
6.         Sioux Falls                                153 pts.
7.         Northern State                          139 pts.
8.         MSU Moorhead                         126 pts.
9.         Minot State                               107 pts.
10.        St. Cloud State                          105 pts.
11.        Bemidji State                             81 pts.
12.        Wayne State                            68 pts.
13.        Concordia-St. Paul                    51 pts.
14.        Upper Iowa                               47 pts.
15.        Southwest Minnesota State        46 pts.
16.        Minnesota Crookston                16 pts.
                        first-place votes in ( )