Men’s Cross Country Receives Top-Four Spot in GPAC Poll

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern men's cross country team has been picked fourth in the GPAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced today.

After finishing fourth at the GPAC Championships last season, the Raiders enter the new year with valuable experience. Caleb Tofteland qualified for the NAIA Championships, placing 52^nd in his freshman season, while also receiving All-GPAC honors with a seventh-place finish at the GPAC Championships. Northwestern returns all but one member of its conference championship lineup in Tofteland, Alik McIlravy, Emmett Barber, Dietrich Dirks, Jake Huston, Ashton Hughes, Carson Engbers, Jacob Shaffer, and Quinlan Rundquist.

Northwestern received 72 points in the poll. Dordt held the top spot with 95 points and six first-place votes. Doane trailed by a point with 94 points and five first-place votes. A vote from the league's head coaches determined the results. Coaches could not vote for their own team.

Here are the full results of the GPAC Preseason Coaches' Poll:
1. Dordt – 95 pts. (6 first-place votes)
2. Doane – 94 pts. (5 first-place votes)
3. Concordia – 76 pts.
4. Northwestern – 72 pts.
5. Midland – 64 pts.
6. Morningside – 53 pts.
7. Mount Marty – 46 pts.
8. Hastings – 45 pts.
9. Waldorf – 27 pts.
10. Dakota Wesleyan – 17 pts.
11. Briar Cliff – 16 pts.

The Raiders will open the year at the Augustana Twilight on September 4 in Sioux Falls.

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Players Mentioned

Carson Engbers: 6' 0"; Junior

Ashton Hughes: 5' 7"; Junior

Jake Huston: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Alik McIlravy: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jacob Shaffer: 6' 1"; Junior

Emmett Barber: 6' 2"; Freshman

Dietrich Dirks: 6' 2"; Freshman

Quinlan Rundquist: 5' 10"; Freshman

Caleb Tofteland: 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Carson Engbers
: 6' 0"; Junior

Ashton Hughes
: 5' 7"; Junior

Jake Huston
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Alik McIlravy
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jacob Shaffer
: 6' 1"; Junior

Emmett Barber
: 6' 2"; Freshman

Dietrich Dirks
: 6' 2"; Freshman

Quinlan Rundquist
: 5' 10"; Freshman

Caleb Tofteland
: 5' 8"; Freshman