For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release


BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The Augustana College men and the University of Minnesota Duluth women’s cross country teams were the top choices in the 2014 NSIC Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll.   Both teams will look to defend their 2013 NSIC and NCAA Central Region team championships with help from the NSIC Preseason Athletes of the Year Harold Karbo and Samantha Rivard.

NSIC Cross Country teams will compete in various meets throughout the fall with the season culminating in Wayne, Neb. on Saturday, November 8 at the NSIC Cross Country Championships.  The NCAA Regional will take place two weeks later on Saturday, November 22 again in Wayne, Neb. The NCAA DII National Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, December 6 at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky. in conjunction  with the NCAA Fall Sports Festival.

	Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll	Points		Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll	Points
1.	Augustana (9)	142	1.	Minnesota Duluth (14)	196
2.	Sioux Falls (3)	135	2.	Augustana (1)	182
3.	Minnesota Duluth	116	3.	Winona State	164
4.	University of Mary	101	4.	University of Mary	156
5.	Minnesota State	96	5.	MSU Moorhead	135
6.	MSU Moorhead	92	6.	Minnesota State	127
7.	Winona State	75	7.	Sioux Falls	119
8.	Southwest Minnesota State	57	8.	St. Cloud State	104
9.	Northern State	50	9.	Northern State	96
10.	St. Cloud State	48	10.	Minot State	81
11.	Wayne State	40	11.	Southwest Minnesota State	66
12.	Concordia-St. Paul	29	12.	Wayne State	54
	first place votes in ( )		13.	Concordia-St. Paul	45
			14.	Upper Iowa	27
			15.	Bemidji State	23

NSIC Men's Preseason Athlete of the Year
Harald Karbo (Jr., Stord, Norway)  - Augustana College

• 2013 All-America
• 19th (10k, 30:59.3) at the NCAA Championships
• USTFCCCA All-Central Region honors
• 11th (10k, 32:03.3) at the NCAA Central Region
• First Team All-NSIC honors
• 4th (8k, 25:26.2) at the NSIC Championships

NSIC Women's Preseason Athlete of the Year
Samantha Rivard (So., Oak Grove, Minn. / St. Francis HS) - Minnesota Duluth

• 2013 All-America
• 8th (6k, 21:17) at the NCAA Championships
• USTFCCCA All-Central Region honors
• 4th (6k, 21:11.38) at the NCAA Central Region
• First Team All-NSIC honors
• 4th (6k, 21:29.45) at the NSIC Championships
• 2013 NSIC Cross Country Newcomer of Year

2014 NSIC Cross Country Athletes to Watch

Augustana
Adam Braun	Sr.	Shoreview Minn.
Kaitlyn Yoerg	Sr.	Becker, Minn.
Bemidji State
Emily Turner	Jr.	Bringham Lake, Minn.
Concordia-St. Paul
Nic Rudolph	Sr.	Waseca, Minn.
Maggie Marcus	Jr.	Hutchinson, Minn.
University of Mary
Chris Jessop	Jr.	Corvalis, Mont.
Megan Beam	Sr.	Billings, Mont.
Minnesota Duluth
Dan Nielsen	Sr.	Andover, Minn.
Samantha Rivard	So.	Oak Grove, Minn.
Minnesota State
Josiah Swanson	Sr.	Fond Du Lac, Wis.
Samantha Soupir	Sr.	Omaha, Neb.
MSU Moorhead
Jason Dowell	Sr.	Wheaton, Ill.
Molly Montonye	Jr.	Graceville, Minn.
Minot State
Allison Windish	Sr,	Wimbledon, N.D.
Northern State
Hunter Kopff	Sr.	Monticello, Minn.
Sasha Hovind	So.	Stirum, N.D.
Sioux Falls
Matt Horan	Jr.	Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jordin Kopplow	So.	Adrian, Minn.
Southwest Minnesota State
Alejandro Sanchez	Jr.	Plano, Texas
Paige Yi	So.	Algona, Iowa
St. Cloud State
Johnathan Hess	So.	Bloomington, Minn.
Sam Sunstrom	So.	Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Upper Iowa
Mekenzie Coppage	So.	Fort Madison, Iowa
Wayne State
Justin Brueggemann	Jr.	Plattsmouth, Neb.
Skyler Lippman	Sr.	Pierce, Neb.
Winona State
Billy Eifert	Sr.	Cambridge, Minn.
Jessica Young	Sr.	Winona, Minn.