BURNSDALE, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Cross Country Team was picked to place eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Poll today. Senior Mary Goodwin was listed as an Athlete to Watch.
The Beavers tallied 97 points to come in eighth. BSU is right behind Northern State in seventh with 99 points. Augustana the two-time defending NSIC Champions were selected to repeat with 191 points and nine first-place tallies. Winona State was second with 184 points and the other six first-place votes, while Minnesota State with 167 points rounded out the top-three.
"This team is young! It's going to be exciting to see what they can do this year," head coach Mike Lynch said. "It's a great team to coach with LOTS of energy and willingness to keep pushing each other every day. If this team sets a goal, they will do what it takes to get it!"
Bemidji State placed ninth last year at the NSIC Championship with Goodwin pacing the Beavers coming in 39th. Goodwin set several program records last year in the 4,000-meter (14:26.66) and 5,000-meter (18:58.0).
"Mary is an extremely hard worker! She puts in the work and excels at doing the little things. Her energy and passion she has for the sport is unmatched," Lynch said. "Mary was not going to run in college and to see her doing the things she is doing now is incredible. It's going to be a fun season to see what she can do. Big dreams and big goals and it's all been done the right way. With hard work, dedication, and patients!"
The Beavers return five from last year's team and will have four freshmen set to join the squad for 2023. Goodwin and Carol Miller return as seniors. Maggie McCarthy, Callie Ressler and Nadia Vaughn will be back as sophomores.
Carmen Lyon, Hadley Stuehrenberg, Emma Hochhalter and Sydnie Price will join the team this year as freshmen.
For more information on the Bemidji State track and field program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversXCTF), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversXCTF)
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
