RIPON, Wisconsin – After its best finish at the Midwest Conference Championships since 2010, the Ripon College men's cross country team was picked to repeat its third-place finish at the conference meet as the preseason coaches poll was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Red Hawks received three first-place votes from coaches around the conference. Grinnell, last season's runner-up, was selected to claim the MWC title this upcoming season. Defending champion Cornell was picked to finish second.
 
The full poll is listed below.
 
Last season, the Red Hawks saw five athletes earn All-Midwest Conference honors – the highest single-season total in program history. Individual runner-up Sam Forstner returns for his final season of college cross country, while Matt Seeber also returns after taking 15th at the MWC Championships.
 
Ripon opens the 2023 season in Green Bay at the Tom Barry Invitational on Saturday, September 2 at 11 a.m.
 
2023 Midwest Conference Preseason Poll
 
1. Grinnell (5 first-place votes) - 59 points
2. Cornell (1) - 57 points
3. Ripon (3) - 55 points
4. Lawrence - 39 points
5. Illinois College - 34 points
6. Monmouth - 33 points
7. Beloit - 18 points
8. Knox - 17 points
9. Lake Forest - 12 points
 
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