Simpson cross country programs earn top 10 regional preseason ranking

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Simpson College men and women's cross country teams were both voted into the top 10 of the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Preseason Rankings, as announced on Tuesday.

The women claimed fifth place in the rankings, the highest at any point in program history. The Storm women return six of its top seven finishers from last year's regional meet, where the team recorded its best finish since 1991. The men were voted in sixth position, tied for their highest preseason ranking in program history, which also occurred last season. The Storm men took eighth in last year's regional meet and also return six of its top seven finishers from that race.

"We're very much excited for this upcoming season, as both squads return a plethora of depth and talent," said Heath Moenck, director of track and field and cross country. "Add in two large and talented recruiting classes and it should be a good recipe for team success come championship season. As always, our conference is one of the premier distance conferences in all of Division III and we're looking forward to the challenge."

2022 IN REVIEW

• Both programs were regionally ranked in all nine polls released, with the men coming in as high as sixth and the women as high as seventh.
• Spencer Moon became the men's first All-American since 1989 with a 10th place finish at the NCAA Championships. He also claimed all-conference and all-region honors for the third time in his career.
• The women finished seventh as a team at regionals, the team's best placing since 1991.
• Lara Kallem had the highest individual finish at the regional meet since Simpson Hall of Famer Catie Ellingson in 2010.
• Kallem and Emma Angus earned all-conference honors, the first time the Storm women had multiple all-conference honorees since 2009.
• The women placed fourth as a team at the A-R-C Championships, while the men took fifth.

KEY RETURNERS

• Spencer Moon, senior
• Andrew Klein, senior
• Cade Mash, senior
• Lara Kallem, senior
• Ashley Rockhold, senior
• Teghan Booth, junior

MEN'S 2023 SCHEDULE | MEN'S 2023 ROSTER

WOMEN'S 2023 SCHEDULE | WOMEN'S 2023 ROSTER

USTFCCCA MEN'S PRESEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS
1. North Central (Ill.)
2. Wartburg
3. Washington (Mo.)
4. Loras
5. Central
6. Simpson
7. Chicago
8. Cornell College
9. Luther
10. Wheaton (Ill.)

USTFCCCA WOMEN'S PRESEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS
1. Wartburg
2. Chicago
3. Washington (Mo.)
4. Central
5. Simpson
6. Loras
7. Aurora
8. Wheaton (Ill.)
9. Illinois Wesleyan
10. Nebraska Wesleyan