By: Madie Brink
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced its 2026 Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Polls on Monday, with the University of Sioux Falls men selected fifth and the Cougar women picked eighth heading into the fall season.
Owen Janiszeski was named the Cougars' Men's Athlete to Watch, while Anjalie Aho earned the distinction on the women's side.
Men's Cross Country
Sioux Falls earned 121 points in the men's preseason poll to rank fifth among the conference's 15 programs.
Augustana was selected as the preseason favorite after receiving 14 first-place votes and 196 points. MSU Moorhead followed in second with 182 points and the remaining first-place vote, while Minnesota State was third with 164 points and the University of Mary fourth with 161.
The Cougars enter the 2026 season with an experienced group that Head Coach Eric Chilson expects to lean on throughout the fall.
Coach's Corner
"The USF Cougars enter the 2026 cross country season with an experienced, senior-heavy roster and high expectations," Chilson said. "This veteran group has spent years building, providing strong leadership and setting the standard for our younger athletes. Many of our returners have gained valuable championship experience on both the cross country course and the track.
"As we look ahead to the season, our focus is on maximizing the experience of this group, continuing to improve each week, and competing at our highest level when championship season arrives."
Janiszeski returns after putting together a strong freshman campaign in 2025. He finished 14th at the NSIC Cross Country Championships, completing the 8K course in 26:03.1.
He recorded a season-best 8K time of 25:47.6 at the Dordt University Holiday Inn Express Classic and later closed his season with a 10K personal best of 32:31.7 at the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championship.
Janiszeski also placed third at the Wildcat Classic with a 4.2K time of 13:54.3 and opened his collegiate career with a 4-mile time of 20:05.1 at the Augustana Twilight.
"Owen has continued to develop throughout his time at USF and is ready to take another step forward this cross country season," Chilson said. "He has been a consistent contributor for our program and has put together an outstanding offseason. I'm excited to see Owen embrace a bigger role this year and continue building on the tradition of excellence within our program."
Women's Cross Country
The Cougar women were selected eighth in the 16-team preseason poll after receiving 125 points.
Winona State earned the top spot with 219 points and 11 first-place votes. Minnesota State was second with 202 points and one first-place vote, followed closely by Augustana with 201 points and three first-place votes. Minnesota Duluth was fourth with 181 points, while the University of Mary rounded out the top five with 179 points and one first-place vote.
Sioux Falls returns an experienced core this fall as the Cougars look to continue developing throughout the season.
Coach's Corner
"What excites me most about our women's team this year is the opportunity to see this group continue to grow and reach its potential," Chilson said. "While we have a strong core of experienced returners, every season presents a chance for athletes to embrace larger roles and elevate the program.
"Our senior leadership will be a major strength, and we're looking for that experience to set the tone while our younger runners continue to develop. I'm excited to see how this team comes together, competes, and responds to the challenges throughout the season."
Women's Athlete to Watch – Anjalie Aho
Aho returns after leading the Cougar women during her freshman season in 2025. She competed in six meets and posted personal-best performances across multiple distances.
Aho finished second at the Wildcat Classic with a 3.6K time of 14:30.4. She added a season-best 5K performance of 18:45.3 at the Augustana Twilight and recorded a 6K best of 22:54.6 at the Dordt University Holiday Inn Express Classic.
"Anjalie returns as the top finisher for the Cougar women from a year ago and is poised for another strong season," Chilson said. "She is one of the hardest-working and most coachable athletes in our program, consistently embracing every opportunity to improve. Her dedication, positive attitude, and willingness to learn have been key factors in her development, and we're excited to see her continue leading our women's team this fall."
Up Next
The Cougars will open the 2026 cross country season at the Augustana Twilight in Sioux Falls on September 4th.
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