BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Southwest Minnesota State University women's cross country team was selected to place 15th in the annual NSIC preseason coaches' poll released on Monday.
 
SMSU junior, Madison Marco, was named an 'Athlete to Watch' this season.
 
"Maddy comes off a successful summer of training. She had a strong indoor and outdoor track & field season where she scored for the second year in a row in the NSIC steeplechase enroute to a school record," said seventh-year SMSU head coach, Kirk Nauman. "She also broke the 1,000 meter and was a part of the DMR records in both indoor and outdoor during the 2025 season."
 
SMSU opens practice on Aug. 25 and will have its first meet on Sept. 5 at the Augustana Twilight.
 
The NSIC Championship will be held on Oct. 24 at the Wayne Country Club in Wayne, Neb.