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

The UMD women locked in fifth with 172 points, only one point behind the fourth-place Mavericks. Rounding out the top five were first place Augustana with 220 points and ten first-place votes, University of Mary (216), Winona State (183), and Minnesota State (173). 

The women's team, who placed 5th overall at the NSIC Conference Championship in 2019, will return its top three runners from the 2019 NSIC Championship: Mackenzie Hall, Morgan Radel, and Alex Robran.

Hall was named the 2021 NSIC Player to Watch for UMD. She had the best result for the Bulldogs at the Conference Championship, coming in 18th, a performance that landed her second team All-Conference honors.She placed 34th at the Central Region Championship that year as well with a personal best time of 22:34.9. Hall also ran PRs in the 3000 meters indoors and 5000 meters outdoors. Radel ran a PR in the 5000 meters outdoors, and Robran ran PRs in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters outdoors last spring.

Outdoor All-American Haleigh Reindl, Isabelle Brezinka, Elizabeth Kyes, Anna Palodichuk, Julia Nielsen, and Lauryn Renier also return from very good outdoor seasons and anchor a strong returning group of runners and exciting incoming freshman class.