SIOUX FALLS - Earlier today the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) released the Preseason Coaches' Polls for Men's and Women's Cross Country. Both USF programs were picked to finish top-5.

After finishing 6th at the NSIC championships and sending its first women's runner to the NCAA National Championships, USF Women's Cross Country was picked to place 5th in the 2023 season. Men's Cross Country tabbed multiple All-conference Honors during the 2022 NSIC Championships en route to tying for 2nd place at the event and leading them to be selected for a 3rd place place finish this year.

Each team saw multiple key contributors graduate last year but despite that, Head Coach Doug Petersen is optimistic about the season: On the men's side- "We had three of our top seven from last season graduate so it will be fun to see how the returning and newcomer runners will fill in the top seven spots. Many of the runners had outstanding indoor and outdoor seasons! They are ready to step and continue the distance tradition at USF." On the women's side: We lost some key members off our team from last year, but we bring lots of experience to the starting line. It will be exciting to see how some of the younger and veteran runners will step to fill in the spots from graduation." With the key theme being opportunities for student-athletes to step up and leave their mark while having proven talent at the top, the Cougars are confident they can meet or best the lofty predictions of the preseason poll.

The Cougar to watch on the women's side made history last season and was also last years runner to watch. Khot Juac ran well during the 2021 season and followed it up in 2022 by becoming the first USF women's cross country runner to make it to the NCAA National Championships. Her trip to University Place, WA to compete against the best of the best in DII concluded with a 48th place finish behind a 21:28.50 time in the women's 6k event. Last season Juac competed in a total of seven meets with a 5K best of 18:02.06 at the Mt. Marty Invite and a 6K best of 21:10.84 at the NCAA Regional meet. She picked up a 1^st place finish at the Mt. Marty Invite and a 17^th overall finish at the NCAA Regional meet.
Micade Shumway takes over as the men's runner to watch in 2023. Shumway enters 2023 as the top returning finisher for the Cougars from last years NSIC Championships. The junior is already on the verge of claiming a USF record as he posted the 4th fastsest time in USF 10k history with his 20:38.4 during the NCAA DII Central Region Championships last year.