The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) today released its 2021 Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, with the Bulldog men coming in fifth.

Of note, both the Bulldog men's and women's cross country teams placed fifth in their respective polls. The men took fifth with 117 points. Ahead of them were Augustana with 169 points and 13 first-place votes, University of Mary (144), MSU Moorhead (132), and Minnesota State (127).

The Bulldog men will look to improve on their 6th place finish in the NSIC Championship in 2019. Many of the men from that team are returning, including Braydon Kubat, Cole Fechner, Matthew Trutna, and Lucas Selman. 

At the 2019 Championship, Trutna finished 31st and raced in the Central Region Championship as well. He was named the 2021 Player to Watch for the Bulldogs for this upcoming fall season. The team will look to Trutna to be a leader on the team this year. Jonny Tostenson also returns after finishing 27th at the 2019 NSIC Championship, and Christian Leonard returns after a stellar outdoor track and field season.