SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota women's cross country team was picked fourth and the men's cross country was picked fifth in the Summit League preseason poll, voted on by the conference's head coaches.
 
The Coyote women were picked fourth, receiving 34 points in the poll. The defending champion South Dakota State was picked first in the poll, receiving four first place votes. North Dakota State and North Dakota round out the top three.
 
South Dakota's athletes to watch on the women's side are Geneva Timmerman and Abrielle Jirele. Timmerman competed in the Summit League Championships as a freshman, placing 38^th in 22:45.89. Jirele didn't compete at the 2024 Championships, but was a first team all-Summit League runner as a member of the 2023 Summit League Championship winning Coyotes, placing fifth in 21:17.7.
 
The South Dakota men landed at No. 5 in the preseason poll, one point behind Oral Roberts for fourth. South Dakota State and North Dakota State took the top two spots in the poll.
 
Sophomores Isaac Ochoa and Natnael Kifle are the athletes to watch on the men's side. Both runners were second team all-conference runners a season ago, as Kifle placed 10^th and Ochoa 14^th at the conference meet.
 
The Summit League Championships are scheduled for Nov. 1 in Omaha. The Coyotes also start the season in Omaha at the Platte River Rumble next Friday, Sept. 5.
 
The Full Preseason Polls are below.
 
Women's Preseason Poll

	School	Points (1st Place votes)
1.	South Dakota State	45 (4)
2.	North Dakota State	42 (2)
3.	North Dakota	37 (2)
4.	South Dakota	34
5.	St. Thomas	27
6.	Omaha	16
6.	Oral Roberts	16
8.	Kansas City	7

 
Men's Preseason Poll

	School	Points (1st Place votes)
1.	South Dakota State	36 (6)
2.	North Dakota State	30 (1)
3.	North Dakota	22
4.	Oral Roberts	19
5.	South Dakota	18
6.	St. Thomas	16
7.	Kansas City	6

 
   
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