MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) is the unanimous favorite to repeat as the North Star Athletic Association Men’s Cross-Country conference title, the 2019 coaches’ preseason poll was announced Tuesday. 

The Trojans, who ended Dickinson State’s (N.D.) three consecutive league titles last season, collected all six first-place votes and 42 points to secure the No. 1 conference ranking. The Blue Hawks are second after registering 34 points. 

Valley City State (N.D.) was picked to finish third with 30 points, followed by Viterbo (Wis.) fourth with 22 points and Waldorf (Iowa) fifth with 19 points. Bellevue (Neb.) placed sixth with 14 points and Presentation (S.D.) seventh with seven points. 

The NSAA Cross Country Conference Championship meet will be hosted by Waldorf (Iowa) on Nov. 8. The team winner of the conference meet will earn the North Star’s automatic bid to the NAIA Men’s Cross-Country National Championships in Vancouver, Wash. on Nov. 22. 

Below is the complete preseason coaches’ poll for 2019 NSAA Men’s Cross Country: 

2019 NSAA Men’s Cross-Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll Rank School (First-Place Votes in parenthesis) Points 1 Dakota State (S.D.) (6) 42 2 Dickinson State (N.D.) 34 3 Valley City State (N.D.) 30 4 Viterbo (Wis.) 22 5 Waldorf (Iowa) 19 6 Bellevue (Neb.) 14 7 Presentation (S.D.) 7