SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior men's cross country team was favored to win its seventh Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Championship, as the conference released its preseason poll in a release Thursday.
The Yellowjackets carded 49 points and seven first place votes among the poll of UMAC coaches. Coming in second place with 41 points was Martin Luther.
UW-Superior welcomes two new faces to the program, while returning a solid core of All-UMAC runners from 2023. Among that core are seniors
Aidan Doherty (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose),
Zach Reese (Zimmerman, Minn./Spectrum) and
Kieran Johnson (South Range, Wis./Northwestern).
Doherty finished the 2023 UMAC Championship race in second place, capturing a race time of 26:13.8. Exactly two seconds behind Doherty was Reese, while
Kieran Johnson (South Range, Wis./Northwestern) clocked a 27:12.4 as the 'Jackets' fifth overall finisher. All three athletes helped UWS claim 17 points (two points shy of a perfect 15), the lowest score in program history.
Crown finished third in the coaches poll with 35 points and the final first place vote. In a tie for fourth place was Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern, each claiming 27 points. Rounding out the circuit was Minnesota Morris (21), North Central (17) and Northland (seven).
The Yellowjackets begin the 2024 campaign at the Toni St. Pierre Invite, hosted by Saint John's. The race is set for Friday, Sept. 6 at 7:15 p.m. at Boulder Ridge Golf Club.
