BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Winona State University Men's Cross-Country team was selected seventh in the 2025 NSIC Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll. Mitchell Johnstone was named Preseason Athlete to Watch for the Warriors.

WSU garnered 101 points in the 2025 NSIC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, locking them in 7th behind Sioux Falls (102 points) and ahead of Concordia-St. Paul (81 points).

Winona State tied for 6th in the NSIC in 2024. Entering his sixth season with the Warriors, head coach John Hibshman noted, "We have a good returning group that wants to continue to get better. This group is led by Mitchell Johnstone. He has a good supporting cast of Robert Spain, Connor Norby, Connor Hallaway, Jacob Lanzara, and Calvin Redker. It will be interesting to see how our freshmen contribute to the team. These guys have been working hard since last spring. They are very supportive of each other, and they want to be very competitive in our conference."

Johnstone, a senior from Cleveland, Minn., led the runners last season, appearing in all meets and finishing eighth the 2024 NSIC Cross Country Championships. He also finished 46th in the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships.

Coach Hibshman on Johnstone: "Mitchell loves everything about running. He is in our exercise science program and continues to learn more about training and what works for him. He has been working hard since late spring and is really motivated to be one of the top runners in our conference. I cannot say enough about his work ethic as a runner and as a student. He has made great choices to become the best he can be."

The Warriors will open their season at the Vic Godfrey Open in Kenosha, Wis. on Friday, September 5.