BISMARCK, ND – Coming off an impressive 10
th place finish at the 2021 NCAA championships, the University of Mary women's cross country team looks to extend a streak of six straight national championship appearances in 2022. Under the direction of new head coach
Chris Lessard, the Marauders feature a youthful cast headlined by three sophomores and a junior, three of whom ran at the 2021 NCAA finals with a fourth who missed out on nationals due to injury.
The Northern Sun runner-up in 2021, the Marauders are projected to finish 3
rd in the 2022 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released today. UMary was one of two teams to pick up a first place vote. Augustana is the preseason coaches' pick to win the title and garnered 225 points. Minnesota Duluth (197 points) edged UMary (196) for second place by one point. Minnesota State is projected to finish fourth, followed by Winona State, Sioux Falls, Northern State, MSU Moorhead, Minot State, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, Wayne State, Concordia-St. Paul, Upper Iowa, Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota Crookston.
All-American
Alyssa Becker will lead the Marauders charge. Named the Marauders 2022 NSIC Athlete to Watch, the sophomore paced UMary with a 17
th place finish at her first NCAA championships. The native of Seabeck, Wash., placed 7
th in the conference meet and later finished 6
th at the NCAA Central Region. Becker's outstanding cross country season carried into the indoor track season as she had top-3 finishes in the 3000 and 5000 meter runs at the NSIC championship meet to earn all-league honors.
"Alyssa has had an incredible summer and is eager to expand on what she was able to accomplish last year," said Lessard. "The culture she brings to the team with her dedication, hard work, and quirky demeanor is something that will lead our team to new heights over her career!"
Andrijana Fundak,
Kristine Kalthoff and
Ellen Moore return after strong debut cross country seasons for UMary. After running among the Marauders top 6 much of the year Fundak missed nationals due to injury. Kalthoff placed 50
th at the regional. Filling in for Fundak at nationals, Moore rounded out the Marauders team scoring after placing 139
th in the country at her first NCAA meet. Both Fundak and Kalthhoff are now sophomores while Moore is a junior.
Senior
Kiran Green, an all-NSIC performer as a freshman in 2019, also returns for the Marauders.
"I'm excited to see some of the amazing individual steps each person on the team will make while also shocking themselves as to what they can accomplish when they are counted on as a team," said Lessaard. "They are a group eager to prove themselves and see how far they have come from previous years of leadership and successful history! I truly believe this group will rise to the occasion when it matters most."
UMary opens their season at the MSU Moorhead Twilight Meet on September 9 before taking on the challenge of the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational on September 23. Overall the Marauders will race in four meets prior to the start of championship season starting with the NSIC championships on November 5.
#marauders#
