The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its cross country Preseason Coaches' Poll Tuesday (August 29). The men's cross country squad was tabbed third in the polling, claiming one first place vote (49 points). Grand Valley State was selected tops in the conference with eight first-place votes (64 points), with Saginaw Valley just ahead of Tech with 53 points. The women were selected fourth with 51 points. The three teams ahead of the Huskies were Grand Valley State (81 points) with nine first place ballots, Wayne State with one first place vote (71 points) and Saginaw Valley (67 points).

The Huskies open the season at home with the Yooper Skirmish on Sept. 2, playing as a course preview for the GLIAC Cross Country Championships, that Michigan Tech will play host to on Saturday, Oct. 21

The men of Michigan Tech return five point scorers from the 2022 squad that turned out a program-best 10th-place team finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, losing low-sticks Clayton Sayen and Drew Kolodge to graduation. Of those returners are Nick McKenzie and Sam Lange, who both earned postseason accolades.

McKenzie earned Second Team All-GLIAC with a 20th place finish at the conference championships. Lange earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors posting a 15th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships. Of note, Lange also was one of the best third runners at the National Championships a year ago, placing 49th overall. The fourth runner at NCAAs for the Huskies, Tucker Ringhand had a runner-up finish in the GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a tactical 5,000m, running 14:50.78. In addition to the core squad of a year ago, the Huskies bring in 12 newcomers to the 2023 roster.

The women’s squad also lost some seniority from a season ago, however, they return Hannah Loughlin, who progressed to be the third finisher for the Huskies at the Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships, placing 41st with a personal-best time of 22:48.8. She continued that momentum to podium in the 10,000m at the GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, setting a personal record of 36:44.17, placing third overall. Michigan Tech adds six freshmen to the 2023 roster.

A trio of Huskies’ join Loughlin as returners from the Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships from a year ago in Elsa Huckels, Anabel Needham and Ingrid Seagren. Tech also returns Mady VanWieren, who was a member of the 2019 team that competed at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, hosted in Sacramento, California.