BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Winona State Men's Cross-Country team was selected sixth in the 2026 NSIC Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll. Jacob Lanzara was named the Preseason Athlete to Watch for the Warriors.

WSU gathered 119 points in the 2026 NSIC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, locking them in sixth place right behind Sioux Falls (121 points) and directly ahead of Minnesota Crookston (118).

Winona State finished the 2025 season in sixth place in the NSIC. Entering his first season as the Warriors head coach, Darin Shepardson noted, "I am excited to work with this group of men. This will be the first season that we have everyone training together. Our goal is to improve throughout the season and run our best during the championship phase."

Lanzara, a senior from Aurora, Ill, comes off a 45th place finish at the 2025 NSIC Cross Country Championship and a 108th place finish in the 2025 NCAA Regional Championship.

Coach Shepardson on Lanzara, "Jacob is a hard worker and solid leader for our team. He leads by example. He has continued to improve throughout his college career, and he looks to finish his senior year with his best season yet."

The Warriors will open their season at the Augustana Twilight in Yankton Trails, S.D. on Friday, September 4th.