BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Winona State University Women's Cross Country team was selected third in the 2024 NSIC Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll. Sophia Taarud was named Preseason Athlete to Watch for the Warriors.
 
WSU garnered 157 points in the 2024 NSIC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, locking them in third behind University of Mary (179 points) and ahead of Minnesota State (155 points). Augustana was selected first with 196 points and 14 first-place votes. Augustana's Aubrey Surage was selected as the Preseason Athlete of the Year.
 
Winona State won the NSIC Team Championship, NCAA Division II Central Region Championship, and finished fifth in the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2023. Entering his fifth season with the Warriors, head coach John Hibshman noted, "The 2024 team has three of the top five runners back from last year's championship team. Sophia Taarud, McKenna Taylor, and Kylie Anderson will provide the experience and leadership. Rhya Brandemuehl and Mara Talabac are returning after missing the 2023 season. Sam Harke (sophomore) and the incoming freshman add depth to our team. We have made the National meet the past two years, and this team wants to continue that streak."
 
Taarud, a senior from Farmington, Minn., led the runners last season, appearing in all meets and finishing ninth in the NSIC Cross Country Championships, eighth in the NCAA Division II Regionals, and 49th in the NCAA Division II National Championships.
 
Coach Hibshman on Taarud: "Sophia was our number three runner from last year's championship team. She has improved greatly every year that she has run for us. Sophia is coming off a foot injury this past spring. She is very resilient and has been working very hard to be one of the best runners in our conference. It will be exciting to see her progress in the 2024 season."

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