Contact: Greta Norville, Assistant Director of Sport Communications and Marketing, norvilleg@midwestconference.org
 
NEENAH, Wisconsin - Coming off a 2025 Midwest Conference championship, the Lawrence University men’s cross country program has been picked to defend its title in 2026 according to the MWC preseason coaches’ poll released Monday morning.
 
The Vikings gathered eight first-place votes and 80 points to top off the poll. Lawrence earned its 11th MWC team championship last fall in Cedar Rapids.
 
Grinnell College picked up one first-place vote and 70 total points to land in second place. Luther College received the remaining first-place vote and 62 points for third place. Cornell College (55 points) and Ripon College (53 points) completed the top half of the voting.
 
Beloit College took sixth with 31 points, followed closely by Illinois College in seventh with 30 points. Monmouth College and Lake Forest College tied for eighth with 26 points apiece, and Knox College rounded out the poll with 17 points.
 
The 2026 MWC Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, October 31, at the Beloit Club in Beloit, Wisconsin. The men’s race is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all 10 teams follow:
 
2026 MWC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Lawrence University (8) - 80 points
2. Grinnell College (1)- 70 points
3. Luther College (1) - 62 points
4. Cornell College - 55 points
5. Ripon College - 53 points
6. Beloit College - 31 points
7. Illinois College- 30 points
T8. Monmouth College - 26 points
T8. Lake Forest College- 26 points
10. Knox College - 17 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes
* Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Juliana Stogsdill (1st Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 7th
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jerry Frawley (6th Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 3rd
All-Conference Returnees: Jake Bach (3^rd, Sr), Isaac Morris (19^th, Sr)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Sarah Burnell (6th Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 2nd
All-Conference Returnees: Jack Lakin (9th, So) - 2025 MWC Newcomer of the Year, Ben Abelow (10^th, Jr),
Sebastian Vilches (17^th, So), Greyson Imm (18^th, Jr)
 
Illinois College Blueboys
Head Coach: Anthony Flores (4th Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 7th
All-Conference Returnees: Robby Biesenthal (16^th, Jr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Dale Compton (1st Season)
2024 MWC Finish: 5th
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Patrick Austin (5th Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 9th
All-Conference Returnees: Owen Lashenik (13^th, Jr)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Jason Fast (18th Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 1st
All-Conference Returnees: Ryan Cassiday (4^th, Sr), Nick Hansen (5^th, Jr), Finn Lee (6^th, Sr), Zach Meyer (7^th, Jr), Caleb Hardy (12^th, Jr)
 
Luther College Norse
Head Coach: Steve Pasche (21st Season)
2025 A-R-C Finish: 7th
All-Conference Returnees: Michel Heinrich (16^th, Sr)
 
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Cooper Pauley (3rd Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 8th
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Drew Hoffman (3rd Season)
2025 MWC Finish: 4th
All-Conference Returnees: Finn Lettau (14^th, So), Jeremy Saloun (15^th, Sr)