Burnsville, Minn. – The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released this morning the 2019 Preseason Cross Country Coaches' Poll. The Northern State women were picked seventh in the league with 131 points, while the men were picked eighth with 83 points.
 
The 2019 Northern State Wolves are slated for four competitions prior to the NSIC Championships on October 26. Northern is coming off an eighth place finish at the NSIC Championships and 19^th place finish at the NCAA Central Region meet in 2018. NSU will open the season at the Augustana Twilight on September 6, before heading to the SDSU Classic, Roy Griak Invitational, and Bob Waxlax Invitational. The Wolves will host their annual Steps for Shep race over the Gypsy Day weekend on Saturday, October 12.
 
Northern returns 17 runners from a season ago (10 - women, 7 - men), and welcomes seven new additions in 2019 (5 - men, 2 - women). The returners include Megan Mooberry and Jackson Harrison who were tabbed as the team's runners to watch for the 2019 season. The Wolves are looking to build in their second year under the direction and training of Livia Mahaffie.
 
Mooberry recorded season best marks of 20:26.00 in the 5k and 23:47.30 in the 6k a season ago. She opened the year taking third at the Herb Blakely Invite with her season best time in the 5k. Harrison notched season best times of 25:48.00 in the 8k and 34:10.60 in the 10k in 2018. He finished as high as fifth at the Herb Blakely Invite to open his freshman campaign.
 
Men's Preseason Poll   

1.      University of Sioux Falls (9)	162
2.      Augustana University (5)	161
3.      Minnesota State University Moorhead	139
4.      Minnesota State University, Mankato	129
5.      University of Minnesota Duluth	124
6.      University of Mary	109
7.      Concordia University, St. Paul	103
8.      Northern State University	83
9.      Winona State University	70
10.  Minot State University	61
11.  Southwest Minnesota State University	48
12.  Wayne State College	45
13.  Upper Iowa University	24
14.   University of Minnesota Crookston	16

               
Women's Preseason Poll            

1.      University of Mary	223
2.      Augustana University	212
3.      University of Minnesota Duluth	185
4.      Minnesota State University, Mankato	184
5.      University of Sioux Falls	169
6.      Winona State University	164
7.      Northern State University	131
8.      Minnesota State University Moorhead	122
9.      St. Cloud State University	113
10.  Concordia University, St. Paul	110
11.  Wayne State College	74
12.  Minot State University	70
13.  Southwest Minnesota State University	60
14.  Bemidji State University	49
15.  Upper Iowa University	39
16.   University of Minnesota Crookston	15