Members of the 2023 Michigan Tech cross country team huddle before an event last season. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced Wednesday (August 28). The men of Michigan Tech are selected to finish fourth with 59 points while the women’s team is tabbed to finish fifth with 64 points. Grand Valley State is the preseason favorite with nine first-place votes on the women’s ballot and 10 first-place votes in the men’s poll.

The men’s squad returns first-team All-GLIAC and All-Region performer Sam Lange along with Tucker Ringhand who was the GLIAC runner-up in the 5,000m at the Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2023 and the fourth finisher for the Huskies at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in 2022 when the Black & Gold had their best program finish getting 10th as a team.

MTU also welcomes six newcomers as the fastest-ever recruiting class highlighted by Lansing Community College transfer Michael Dennis who was the NJCAA Division II National Runner-up. 

The women’s team returns low-stick Sophia Rhein returning for her sophomore year following second-team All-GLIAC in cross country as a freshman. Cedar Gordon, Ingrid Halverson and Hailee Zimpel join Rhein as the returners from the regional meet a season ago. 

The Black and Gold also brings in a lot of talent with nine newcomers with the potential to be among the top-seven.

The Huskies open the season on September 6, at the Phoenix Open hosted by the University of Green Bay. 

2024 GLIAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1.Grand Valley State 81 (9)

2. Saginaw Valley State 73 (1)

3. Wayne State 62

4. Michigan Tech 59

5. Parkside 44

6. Davenport 43

7. Ferris State 37

8. Purdue Northwest 24

9. Lake Superior State 18

10. Roosevelt 9

2024 GLIAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Grand Valley State 100 (10)

2. Wayne State 86 (1)

3. Saginaw Valley State  82

4. Northern Michigan 73

5. Michigan Tech 64

6. Parkside 56

7. Ferris State 46

8. Davenport 40

9. Purdue Northwest 29

10. Lake Superior State 19

11. Roosevelt 10