VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State University women’s cross country team has been picked to finish second and the VCSU men were picked third in the North Star Athletic Association Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Monday.

The Vikings are coming off a strong season that saw the men finish second and the women finish third at the 2017 NSAA Championships. VCSU opens the 2018 season Friday, Sept. 7, at the MSU-Moorhead Twilight Meet.

The Viking women did not graduate anyone from last year’s squad and were picked to finish second behind Dickinson State in this week’s preseason poll. Dickinson State is favored to repeat as champions on the women’s side. The Blue Hawks received 48 poll points and six first-place votes. Valley City State was second with 37 poll points, followed by Dakota State, Waldorf University, Viterbo University, Presentation College and Bellevue University.

On the men’s side, Dickinson State was also picked to repeat as champions after edging the Vikings for last year’s NSAA title. The Blue Hawks received 46 poll points and five first-place votes. Dakota State was picked second with 41 points and two first-place votes. Valley City State was third with 39 poll points, followed by Waldorf University, Viterbo University, Bellevue University and Presentation College.

This is the first season that Bellevue University and Presentation College will field men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Valley City State is scheduled to compete at five meets this season, concluding with the NSAA Championship on Nov. 3 in La Crosse, Wis.