BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Winona State University Women's Cross Country team was selected first in the 2026 NSIC Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll and Ella Voit was named the Preseason Athlete of the Year.

WSU gathered 219 points in the 2026 NSIC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll, locking them in first place directly ahead of Minnesota State (202 points) and Augustana (201 points).

Winona State came in first place at the NSIC Championship, first in the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship, and finished 11th in the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2025. Beginning his first season with the Warriors, head coach Darin Shepardson noted, "I am excited because we have a good group of returning varsity runners in Ella Voit, Stella Rusch, Kelsey Young, Libby Ray, and Emily Meyer. Our senior leadership will be strong with Jenna Anders, Sam Harke, Caroline Hermann, and Lexi Terwedo. Our freshman class is strong yet untested. It will be fun watching this team develop throughout the season."

Voit, a Junior from Sauk Rapids, Minn., will help lead the runners this season after a sixth-place finish at the NSIC Championship in 2025 and a 21st place finish in the 2025 NCAA Regional Championship. Voit also made the 2026 USTFCCCA Second Team All-American list and USTFCCCA All-Region team along with being the 2024 NSIC Women's Cross Country Newcomer of the Year.

Coach Shepardson on Voit, "Ella is a tough and gritty person who has been a great leader for our team. She has a great work ethic and is committed to being the best she can be for her team and herself."

Winona State opens their season at the Augustana Twilight in Yankton Trails, S.D. on September 4th.