SIOUX FALLS, S.D. ­— Both South Dakota cross country teams earned fourth place spots in the Summit League Preseason Poll, voted on by the conference's head coach, announced Wednesday morning.
 
For the South Dakota women, they are picked fourth alone, with 31 points in the poll. The other three Dakota schools are above USD, with the preseason favorites being North Dakota, who received five first place votes. The Coyote women placed fourth at the conference meet last fall and return five of their top six finishers from the meet.
 
Geneva Timmerman and Drew Beason are USD's women's runners to watch this fall. Timmerman was a first-team all-conference runner in the fall and was an all-conference runner in the 5000-meters outdoor. Beason took 33^rd at the conference cross country meet last fall as a freshman. She also holds top 10 marks in the mile, 3000, and 5000 indoor and in the 5000 outdoor.
 
On the men's side, USD is tied with St. Thomas and Oral Roberts for fourth in this year's preseason poll. USD placed sixth last season and returns four of their top six from last year's conference meet. The preseason favorite on the men's side is South Dakota State.
 
Isaac Ochoa and Natnael Kifle are the men's runners to watch. Neither runner earned all-conference honors in 2025 at the conference meet, but both athletes did as freshmen in 2024. Kifle was a Summit League Champion in the distance medley relay indoor in the spring. Ochoa was an all-Summit League athlete in the 3000-meter indoor in the spring.
 
The Coyotes start their fall in Sioux Falls at the Augustana Twilight Friday night. The college races are scheduled for 8:45 and 9:15 p.m. at the Yankton Trail Park.

SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S PRESEASON POLL

1.	North Dakota	47 (5)
2.	South Dakota State	42 (2)
3.	North Dakota State	39 (1)
4.	South Dakota	31
5.	St. Thomas	23
6.	Oral Roberts	19
7.	Omaha	13
8.	Kansas City	10

SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S PRESEASON POLL

1.	South Dakota State	35 (5)
2.	North Dakota	32 (2)
3.	North Dakota State	26
4.	Oral Roberts	16
4.	South Dakota	16
4.	St. Thomas	16
7.	Kansas City	6

 
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