Upcoming Event: Men's Cross Country at Griak Invitational on September 19, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
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10:00 a.m.
Men's Cross Country
at Griak Invitational
South Dakota State University Athletics
JACKS TAKE TOP SPOT IN CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
8/27/2025 10:15:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State's men's and women's cross country programs received first-place rankings in the Summit League's preseason poll, as announced by the conference Wednesday afternoon. The Jackrabbits also scored a couple spots in the USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) regional preseason rankings, as announced by the association Monday afternoon.
Both the men's and women's Jackrabbit squads receive their first-place rankings following a pair of conference titles from last year's Summit League Championship. The men's team clutched their ninth-consecutive conference title to earn six first-place votes in the preseason poll for a total of 36 points. North Dakota State sits below the Jackrabbits with 30 points and one first-place mark.
The women's squad gathered four first-place ballots for a total of 45 points to land at the top of the league. North Dakota State and North Dakota claimed two first-place votes each to land second and third, respectively.
The USTFCCCA ranked the men's team ninth in the Midwestern region, beating out power conference programs Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas State. The women's team landed 12th in the region, just below Kansas State and above Big Ten's Illinois. USTFCCCA Regional Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams' strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining a rank-order of squad potential.
Despite the Jackrabbits impressive rankings, both squads lost strong leaders on the course, leaving a sizable space to fill. Senior Cody Larson will look to step up and lead the squad this year following an impressive year of competition. Last cross country season, Larson made podium at the conference championships, finishing third with a new personal record of 24:15.93. Sophomore Eli Hall will also be an athlete to keep an eye on. Hall posted a sixth-place finish at the Summit League Championships, taking first-team honors and the title of Newcomer of the Championship.
On the women's side, standout Meghan Ford will look to lead the squad following a tumultuous year of injury. Ford was often seen leading the squad last season with her most notable performance occurring at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals race where the red shirt junior clocked a 6K personal record of 20:49.9 to place 12th in the race. During the conference championship, Ford finished seventh at 21:05.14 to earn first-team honors. Sophomore Courtney Stadter is another Jackrabbit to keep an eye on this season. Stadter stepped up during the conference championship, claiming bronze with a time of 20:59.88 to make first-team honors and receive the title of Newcomer of the Championship.
2025 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
2025 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
Male Athletes to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by the league's head coaches
Cody Larson | South Dakota State| Redshirt Senior
Eli Hall | South Dakota State | Sophomore
Jacob Knodle | North Dakota State | Senior
Ian Busche| North Dakota| Junior
Matej Hrebacka| North Dakota | Redshirt Sophomore
Abraham Chelangam | Oral Roberts | Redshirt Junior
Sibonokuhle Twala | Oral Roberts | Junior
Isaac Ochoa | South Dakota | Sophomore
Max Westerlund | St. Thomas | Junior
Adam Lueth | St. Thomas | Junior
Eli Block | Kansas City | Junior
Evan Kiefer | Kansas City | Junior
Female Athletes to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by the league's head coaches
Courtney Stadter | South Dakota State | Sophomore
Meghan Ford | South Dakota State | Redshirt Junior
Raegan Baesler | North Dakota State |Senior
Shewaye Johnson | North Dakota | Senior
Jadyn Keeler | North Dakota | Senior
Abrielle Jirele | South Dakota | Graduate
Elsie Kmecak | St. Thomas | Junior
Olivia Pauly | St. Thomas | Sophomore
Meredith Richter | Omaha | Sophomore
Briley Early | Omaha | Freshman
Zoie Kiddy | Oral Roberts | Graduate
Ossly Murambidzi | Oral Roberts | Sophomore
Mariah Belmont | Kansas City | Sophomore
Harper Barlow| Kansas City | Junior
Both the men's and women's Jackrabbit squads receive their first-place rankings following a pair of conference titles from last year's Summit League Championship. The men's team clutched their ninth-consecutive conference title to earn six first-place votes in the preseason poll for a total of 36 points. North Dakota State sits below the Jackrabbits with 30 points and one first-place mark.
The women's squad gathered four first-place ballots for a total of 45 points to land at the top of the league. North Dakota State and North Dakota claimed two first-place votes each to land second and third, respectively.
The USTFCCCA ranked the men's team ninth in the Midwestern region, beating out power conference programs Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas State. The women's team landed 12th in the region, just below Kansas State and above Big Ten's Illinois. USTFCCCA Regional Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams' strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining a rank-order of squad potential.
Despite the Jackrabbits impressive rankings, both squads lost strong leaders on the course, leaving a sizable space to fill. Senior Cody Larson will look to step up and lead the squad this year following an impressive year of competition. Last cross country season, Larson made podium at the conference championships, finishing third with a new personal record of 24:15.93. Sophomore Eli Hall will also be an athlete to keep an eye on. Hall posted a sixth-place finish at the Summit League Championships, taking first-team honors and the title of Newcomer of the Championship.
On the women's side, standout Meghan Ford will look to lead the squad following a tumultuous year of injury. Ford was often seen leading the squad last season with her most notable performance occurring at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals race where the red shirt junior clocked a 6K personal record of 20:49.9 to place 12th in the race. During the conference championship, Ford finished seventh at 21:05.14 to earn first-team honors. Sophomore Courtney Stadter is another Jackrabbit to keep an eye on this season. Stadter stepped up during the conference championship, claiming bronze with a time of 20:59.88 to make first-team honors and receive the title of Newcomer of the Championship.
2025 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
| Team | Score (1st place votes) | |
| 1. | South Dakota State | 36 (6) |
| 2. | North Dakota State | 30 (1) |
| 3. | North Dakota | 22 |
| 4. | Oral Roberts | 19 |
| 5. | South Dakota | 18 |
| 6. | St. Thomas | 16 |
| 7. | Kansas City | 6 |
| Team | Score (1st place votes) | |
| 1. | South Dakota State | 45 (4) |
| 2. | North Dakota State | 42 (2) |
| 3. | North Dakota | 37 (2) |
| 4. | South Dakota | 34 |
| 5. | St. Thomas | 27 |
| 6. | Omaha | 16 |
| 6. | Oral Roberts | 16 |
| 8. | Kansas City | 7 |
Note: Players to Watch nominated by the league's head coaches
Cody Larson | South Dakota State| Redshirt Senior
Eli Hall | South Dakota State | Sophomore
Jacob Knodle | North Dakota State | Senior
Ian Busche| North Dakota| Junior
Matej Hrebacka| North Dakota | Redshirt Sophomore
Abraham Chelangam | Oral Roberts | Redshirt Junior
Sibonokuhle Twala | Oral Roberts | Junior
Isaac Ochoa | South Dakota | Sophomore
Max Westerlund | St. Thomas | Junior
Adam Lueth | St. Thomas | Junior
Eli Block | Kansas City | Junior
Evan Kiefer | Kansas City | Junior
Female Athletes to Watch
Note: Players to Watch nominated by the league's head coaches
Courtney Stadter | South Dakota State | Sophomore
Meghan Ford | South Dakota State | Redshirt Junior
Raegan Baesler | North Dakota State |Senior
Shewaye Johnson | North Dakota | Senior
Jadyn Keeler | North Dakota | Senior
Abrielle Jirele | South Dakota | Graduate
Elsie Kmecak | St. Thomas | Junior
Olivia Pauly | St. Thomas | Sophomore
Meredith Richter | Omaha | Sophomore
Briley Early | Omaha | Freshman
Zoie Kiddy | Oral Roberts | Graduate
Ossly Murambidzi | Oral Roberts | Sophomore
Mariah Belmont | Kansas City | Sophomore
Harper Barlow| Kansas City | Junior
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Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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