Mustangs Selected Seventh in GPAC Preseason Poll

SIOUX CITY – The Morningside University men's cross country team on Tuesday was voted in the GPAC poll in the No. 7 spot with 47 points. 

Head cross country coach Frank Wallace wanted his team to feel a little more comfortable heading into the 2024 season, and the Mustangs men were no different.

This season, the cross country student-athletes had a third week of preparation to get ready for their first meet on Sept. 6 at the Augustana Twilight Meet. Usually, the runners get two weeks to prepare.

"Making sure we have everybody locked in, we're going to do that," Wallace said. "Each year, we've been blessed with having that extra week. We usually only have two weeks before our first competition, but having that extra week helped check some things off our list on things we need to get done before Augustana."

The men finished eighth at the GPAC meet last fall with 201 points. The Top 3 returning runners from the conference meet include RC Hicks, Austin Ramold, and Eein McKinley.

McKinley, now a sophomore, said the team is eager to get running and move up the GPAC totem pole.

"I cannot lie, we are ecstatic to get back into it all," McKinley said. "We're trying to get a head start and spending a lot of time on things we may see. I really hope we are going to be a team who is more close-knit."

The 2024 GPAC Cross Country Championships are Saturday, November 9 in Ashland, Nebraska, at Mahoney State Park.