2023 NSIC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll Release

            The Wayne State College men's cross country team was picked ninth in the 2023 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released Monday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  Senior Titus Kiptoo was listed as Wayne State's Athlete to Watch in the NSIC this season.
            Wayne State received 53 points in voting by league coaches after placing ninth at last year's NSIC Championships.
            Three-time defending NSIC champion Augustana was the unanimous selection to win the NSIC title this season, receiving 144 points and 12 first-place votes (coaches can not vote for own team).  Minnesota State was second at 123 points with Sioux Falls third at 119 with the remaining first-place vote.  Minnesota Duluth (112) and University of Mary (94) closed out the top five teams.
            Kiptoo, a senior from Kapsabet, Kenya, was the top Wildcat runner in three of the six meets competed in last season with two top-15 finishes.              
            Wayne State opens the 2023 season on Friday, September 1^st at the Augustana Twilight Invitational in Sioux Falls.
 
2023 Preseason NSIC Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
1.         Augustana (12)                         144 pts.
2.         Minnesota State                       123 pts.
3.         Sioux Falls (1)                          119 pts.
4.         Minnesota Duluth                      112 pts.
5.         University of Mary                      94 pts.
6.         MSU Moorhead                         85 pts.
7.         Minot State                               82 pts.
8.         Northern State                          72 pts.
9.         Wayne State                           53 pts.
10.        Winona State                           52 pts.
11.        Concordia-St. Paul                    59 pts.
12.        Minnesota Crookston                19 pts.
13.        Southwest Minnesota State       16 pts.
                        first place votes in ( )