RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon College men's cross country team was selected to finish in the top third of the Midwest Conference once again in 2024 as the MWC Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Monday morning.
2023 MWC champion Grinnell was picked to finish first once again, while last season's runner-up – Cornell – also grabbed four first-place votes. The top four schools from the 2023 Midwest Conference Championship were selected to finish in the same order in 2024: Grinnell, Cornell, Ripon and Lawrence.
The full poll is listed below.
Last season, Ripon took third at the conference meet. The Red Hawks' six All-MWC performers were a school record for most all-conference runners in a single season. Four of those runners return –
Christian Kuwaye,
Rainier Villanueva,
Matt Seeber and
Adrian Baquera will all anchor the Red Hawks under first-year head coach
Drew Hoffman.
Ripon opens the 2024 season in Green Bay at the Tom Barry Invitational on Saturday, August 31 at 10 a.m.
2024 Midwest Conference Preseason Poll
1. Grinnell College (5 first-place votes) - 60 points
2. Cornell College (4) - 59 points
3. Ripon College - 48 points
4. Lawrence University - 47 points
T5. Knox College - 27 points
T5. Monmouth College - 27 points
7. Illinois College - 25 points
8. Lake Forest College - 18 points
9. Beloit College - 13 points
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