SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota's women and South Dakota State's men were selected to win the 2026 Summit League cross country championships in the preseason coaches' poll released Wednesday by League officials.
The Jackrabbits edged North Dakota for the top spot in the men's poll, receiving 35 points and five first-place votes. The Fighting Hawks followed with 32 points and two first-place votes, while North Dakota State ranked third with 26 points. Oral Roberts, South Dakota and St. Thomas each received 16 points to tie for fourth, while Kansas City rounded out the poll with six points.
North Dakota led the women's poll with 47 points and five first-place votes. South Dakota State followed with 42 points and two first-place votes, while North Dakota State received 39 points and one first-place vote. South Dakota placed fourth with 31 points, followed by St. Thomas with 23. Oral Roberts (19), Omaha (13) and Kansas City (10) completed the women's poll.
2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Score (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
South Dakota State |
35 (5) |
| 2. |
North Dakota |
32 (2) |
| 3. |
North Dakota State |
26 |
| 4. |
Oral Roberts |
16 |
| 4. |
South Dakota |
16 |
| 4. |
St. Thomas |
16 |
| 7. |
Kansas City |
6 |
2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Score (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
North Dakota |
47 (5) |
| 2. |
South Dakota State |
42 (2) |
| 3. |
North Dakota State |
39 (1) |
| 4. |
South Dakota |
31 |
| 5. |
St. Thomas |
23 |
| 6. |
Oral Roberts |
19 |
| 7. |
Omaha |
13 |
| 8. |
Kansas City |
10 |
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON ATHLETES TO WATCH LIST
Note: Athletes to Watch nominated by league's head coaches
Cashton Johnson, South Dakota State
Sr. | Harrisburg, S.D.
- Claimed fourth place at the Summit League Championship with an 8K time of 23:59.8 and helped SDSU capture its 10th consecutive League title
- Finished 40th at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional, clocking a 10K time of 31:45.7
- Placed third at the Augustana Twilight with a four-mile personal best time of 18:41.4
Dale Johnson, South Dakota State
Jr. | Sterling, Ill.
- Earned first-team All-Summit League honors in 2025 after placing fifth at the League Championship with an 8K time of 24:00.5.
- Won the 8K at the Dordt University Holiday Inn Express Classic with a time of 24:06.5.
- Finished 50th at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional, clocking a 10K time of 31:57.1
Louis-Lys Fanucchi, North Dakota
Jr. | Mons En Baroeul, France
- Opened the 2025 season with a fifth-place finish at the Ron Pynn Classic, completing the 6K race in 20:26.5
- Claimed the bronze medal at the League Championship with an 8K time of 23:58.8.
- Ran a season-best 10K time of 32:23.5 at the NCAA Midwest Regional, finishing 62nd.
Matej Hrebacka, North Dakota
Jr. | Hodonin, Czech Republic
- Placed seventh at the 2025 Summit League Championship with an 8K time of 24:01.2.
- Earned a second-place finish at the Jimmie XC Invitational with an 8k time of 24:47.1
- Ran a season-best 8K time of 23:54.6 at the Arturo Barrios Invitational, finishing 36th
Brady Goss, North Dakota State
Sr. | Devils Lake, N.D.
- Competed unattached during the 2025 cross country season.
- Finished 10th in the 8K at the Marauders Invite with a time of 25:54.3
- Claimed the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2026 Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championship with a time of 9:13.96
Ethan Moe, North Dakota State
Sr. | Williston, N.D.
- Placed sixth at the 2025 League Championship with an 8K time of 24:01.1 to earn first-team All-League honors.
- Earned a sixth place finish at the Jimmie XC Invitational in 25:04.3
- Notched an 8k time of 24:31.6 at the Bradley Pink Classic
Abraham Chelangam, Oral Roberts
Sr. | Kapchorwa, Uganda
- Placed second at the Summit League Championship with a personal-best 8K time of 23:22.8 to earn first-team All-League honors.
- Finished in 14th place at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional, clocking a 10K time of 30:42.1
- Qualified for the NCAA Division I Championship and placed 127th with a 10k time of 29:47.2
Andrew Smithwick, Oral Roberts
Senior | Tulsa, Okla.
- Claimed a season-best 8K time of 24:07.4 to place eighth at the Summit League Championship
- Placed 58th at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional with a 10K time of 32:17.2.
- Opened the 2025 season with a second-place finish in the 6K at the Bob Timmons XC Collegiate Classic in 18:17.0.
Isaac Ochoa, South Dakota
Jr. | Norfolk, Neb.
- Placed 23rd at the Summit League Championship with an 8k time of 24:37.4
- Notched a personal best 8k time of 24:24.6 at the Bradley Pink Classic to finish 11th
- Opened the 2025 season with a fifth-place finish in the 6K at the Platte River Rumble Gold in 18:02.5.
Natnael Kifle, South Dakota
Jr. | Sioux City, Iowa
- Placed 22nd at the Summit League Championship with a personal-best 8k time of 24:37.2
- Finished third at the 2025 Briar Cliff Invite with an 8K time of 25:08.1.
- Placed 120th at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional with a 10K time of 33:25.9.
Casey Poppler, St. Thomas
So. | Shoreview, Minn.
- Placed 19th at the Joe Piane Invitational with an 8K time of 24:51.4
- Earned Newcomer of the Championship honors after placing 15th at the League Championship with an 8K time of 24:31.8.
- Finished 112th at the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 10K personal-best time of 33:11.0.
Max Westerlund, St. Thomas
Sr. | Minnetonka, Minn.
- Started the 2025 season with a 49th-place finish at the Roy Griak Invitational in 26:42.7.
- Placed 13th at the Summit League Championship with an 8K time of 24:22.7 to earn second-team All-League honors.
- Finished 83rd at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional with a 10k time of 32:40.9
Sam Cleary, Kansas City
Sr. | Liberty, Mo.
- Did not compete during the 2025 season
- Opened the 2024 season with a career best 6K time of 21:28.8 at the Bob Timmons Classic
- Placed 37th at the 2024 League Championship with an 8K time of 25:55.9
Braxton Theel, Kansas City
So. | Overland Park, Kan.
- Competed for Coastal Carolina during his freshman season
- Finished in 11th place at the Chanticleer Challenge with a personal best 8K time of 24:39.4
- Placed 24th at the 2025 Sun Belt Championship with a time of 25:08.7
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON ATHLETES TO WATCH LIST
Note: Athletes to Watch nominated by league’s head coaches
Marie-Louise Jorgensen, North Dakota
So. | Kolding, Denmark
- Earned Newcomer of the Championship honors after placing fifth at the League Championship with a 6K time of 20:45.4.
- Recorded a 6K personal-best time of 20:43.6 at the Arturo Barrios Invitational.
- Opened the 2025 season with a 5K personal-best time of 17:09.1 to finish second at the MSU Moorhead Dragon Twilight Invitational
Shewaye Johnson, North Dakota
Sr. | Prosper, Tex.
- Opened the 2025 season with a third-place finish at the MSU Moorhead Dragon Twilight Invitational in 17:09.4.
- Finished 22nd at the Arturo Barrios Invitational with a 6K personal-best time of 20:19.5.
- Earned First Team All-league honors at the Summit League Cross Country Championship after placing fourth in the 6K in 20:25.5.
Eleni Lovgren, South Dakota State
Jr. | Williston, N.D.
- Earned first-team All-Summit League honors in 2025 after placing seventh at the League Championship in 20:47.2.
- Claimed a runner-up finish at the Augustana Twilight with a 5K personal record of 17:04.8
- Finished the 2025 season with a 6K time of 21:39.5 at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional
Meghan Ford, South Dakota State
Sr. | Jamestown, N.D.
- Clocked a personal-best 5K time of 16:47.9 at the Augustana Twilight to finish second
- Posted a personal-best 6K time of 20:00.7 at the Summit League Championship to earn the silver medal.
- Finished 13th at the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 6K time of 20:38.3 to earn All-Midwest Region honors.
Mia Hoffmann, North Dakota State
Jr. | Bemidji, Minn.
- Earned second-team All-League honors at the Summit League Cross Country Championships finishing in eighth with a 6K time of 20:51.0
- Finished 77th out of more than 230 runners at the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 6K time of 22:03.1
- Opened the 2025 season with a second-place finish at the Marauders Invite in 21:25.3.
Jade Rypkema, North Dakota State
Sr. | Nevis, Minn.
- Did not compete during the 2025 cross country season
- Set the NDSU school record in the 10,000 meters during the 2026 outdoor season with a time of 35:04.42 at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
- Placed seventh in the 5,000 meters at the Summit League Outdoor Championship with a season-best time of 16:51.32.
Drew Beason, South Dakota
So. | Ankeny, Iowa
- Opened the 2025 season with a 35th-place finish at the Platte River Rumble Gold in 18:33.0.
- Placed 15th at the Briar Cliff Invite with a 6K time of 22:39.7
- Crossed the finish line in 33rd place at the League Cross Country championships with a personal best 6K time of 21:49.3
Geneva Timmerman, South Dakota
R-Jr. | Adel, Iowa
- Finished first at the Briar Cliff Invite with a 6K time of 21:15.9
- Crossed the finish line in sixth place at the League Championship in 20:46.3 to earn first-team All-League honors.
- Placed 51st at the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 6K time of 21:42.6
Lindsay Berg, St. Thomas
So. | Eau Claire, Wis.
- Opened the 2025 season with a 10th-place finish at the Phoenix Open after clocking a 6K time of 22:19.5
- Clocked a season-best 6K time of 21:18.0 at the Bradley Pink Classic to finish 28th
- Finished 28th at the League championships after finishing the 6K course with a time of 21:40.0
Olivia Pauly, St. Thomas
Jr. | St. Cloud, Minn.
- Opened the 2025 season with a third-place finish in the 6K with a time of 22:06.0 at the Phoenix Open
- Recorded a 5K personal best time of 17:33.3 at the Joe Piane Invitational
- Earned second-team All-League honors after placing 10th at the League Championship in a program-record 6K time of 21:01.5.
Madeline Cabana, Oral Roberts
Jr. | Clinton, Ark.
- Opened the 2025 season with an 18:32.4 finish in the 5K at the Bob Timmons XC Collegiate Classic.
- Garnered an 11th place finish at the Weis-Crockett Invitational with a 6K time of 22:22.0
- Earned second-team All-League honors after placing 13th at the Summit League Championship in 21:08.2.
Ossly Murambidzi, Oral Roberts
Jr. | Harare, Zimbabwe
- Opened the 2025 season with a fourth-place finish in the 5K at the Bob Timmons XC Collegiate Classic in 18:27.9.
- Clocked a personal best 5K time of 17:38.2 at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival
- Placed 27th at the Summit League Championship with a 6K personal record time of 21:37.8
Ava Dziedzic, Omaha
Fr. | Slinger, Wis.
- Placed sixth at the Division 1 Wisconsin High School Cross Country State Championship with a time of 18:24.3
- Clocked a personal-best 5K time of 18:22.3 at the D1 Sectional meet to qualify for the state cross country meet
- Opened her senior prep season with a fifth-place finish at the Leighton Betz Invitational in 19:06.3.
Briley Early, Omaha
So. | Leawood, Kan.
- Began her collegiate career with a 16th-place finish in the 5K at the Platte River Rumble Gold in a personal-best 18:07.9.
- Clocked a personal record 6K time of 21:54.6 at the Gans Creek Classic to finish 64th.
- Placed 117th at the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 6K time of 22:36.6
Harper Barlow, Kansas City
Sr. | Yukon, Okla.
- Ran a personal-best 5K time of 20:09.7 at the Bob Timmons XC Collegiate Classic
- Recorded a 6K time of 23:46.3 at the Gans Creek Invitational.
- Finished the 6K League Championship race in 22:31.7.
Ella Ledermann, Kansas City
Fr. | Loveland, Colo.
- Finished 64th at the Liberty Bell invitational with a time of 18:43.5
- Placed 64th at the 5A Colorado Cross Country State Championship with a time of 19:25.0
- Finished her prep career season with a new 5K personal-best time of 18:39 at the NXR Southwest
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