Both the Nebraska Wesleyan University women’s and men’s cross country teams were ranked in the preseason NCAA Division III Central Region poll that was compiled by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The NWU women are ranked first in the Central Region preseason poll, while the NWU men are ranked fourth. In the women’s poll, NWU is followed by Carleton, St. Thomas (Minn.) and Luther to round out the top four. St. Olaf holds down the top spot in the men’s poll followed by Grinnell, Hamline and Nebraska Wesleyan.

Nebraska Wesleyan tied for the Central Region Championship with St. Thomas (Minn.) at the 2009 Men’s Central Region Championship. It marked the third straight season that the NWU men have won the Central Region title. The Prairie Wolves women placed second in 2009 at the Central Region Championship.

This season the Prairie Wolves men have 18 returning lettermen, while the women have 16 runners returning. Nebraska Wesleyan opens the 2010 cross country season on Sept. 18 at the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational at Pioneers Park in Lincoln.

Complete Regional Polls (PDF)