Cross Country | 8/22/2021 7:10:00 PM

BURNSVILLE, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Cross Country Team, which has a long tradition of success, will look to match or better its third place finish of 2019 but has been projected to place sixth in the NSIC Preseason Coach Poll, released today.

USF has been projected sixth with 105 ballot points, according to the preseason poll. The preseason favorite is Augustana with 13 first-place votes and 169 points. U-Mary received a first place vote and 144 points with Minnesota State Moorhead third with 132 points. In fourth place in the poll was Minnesota State at 127 points with Minnesota Duluth, fifth, with 117 and then Sioux Falls.

USF will open the 2021 season at Augustana Twilight at Yankton Trails Park on Friday, Sept. 3.  The Cougars complete in four regular season competition leading up to the NSIC Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 23 at Wayne, Nebraska, hosted by Wayne State College. The NCAA Central Regional will be held on Saturday, November 6 in Joplin, Missouri while the NCAA National Championships will take place on November 20 at The Abbey Course in St. Leo, Florida. 

PREVIEW – As the University of Sioux Falls Cross Country Men's Team looks to the 2021 season, Director of TFCC Doug Petersen has a squad that includes experience and youthful talent which provide the making for a team focused on continuing a tradition of success.

In its eight-year history in DII, six times USF has finished in the top three at the league championships and three times finished in the top two with an NSIC title in 2018. In addition, USF has had three NSIC individual champions and seven student-athletes who have been All-Americans in cross country.

"We are excited to return to action this fall after having the 2020 season canceled," said Petersen. "We have a good mix of veteran runners along with a talented group of newcomers. The guys are hungry to compete and we can't wait to get started," he said.

After missing 2020 due to CoVID-19 pandemic, the Cougars will try and match its finish or better of 2019 when they were third. Athlete to Watch David Ecker (Junior, Eau Claire, Wisc.) will provide leadership. A CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American, Ecker was part of the USF's 2018 NSIC Cross Country championship team that finished fifth at the NCAA DII meet. Ecker, who will serve as president of USF's SAAC, had a standout spring including setting USF's 3,000 steeplechase record and an NCAA DII provisional mark. In addition, he had personal-bests in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters which rank top-10 all-time at USF.  

Transfer Jakob Hanna (Sioux Falls, S.D., NDSU transfer), will add DI experience and success. Twice he finished in the top-28 at the Summit League Cross Country Championships. Also for USF, senior Aaron Voight (Gregory, S.D.), and senior Seth Overholt (Madison, S.D.) will also provide a veteran presence on a team that is talented with depth from Micade Shumway (So., Williston, N.D.), Ben Morrison (So., Bozeman, Mont.), Christian Lietz (So., Worthington, Minn.)  along with freshmen Miles Olofson (Elk River, Minn), Caleb River (St. James, Minn.) and Kade Bullion (Brighton, Colo.).