Cross country squads garner votes in national preseason poll

SEWARD, Neb. – Both perennially successful Concordia University cross country programs received national respect last week. Head coach Kregg Einspahr’s Bulldog men and women garnered votes in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 polls. Just one spot out of the top 25, the women collected 68 points. Meanwhile, the men, listed sixth among “others receiving votes,” reeled in 23 points.

In the conference ratings, the Concordia women checked in third and the men were placed fourth. Last season the Bulldogs turned in fourth (women) and fifth (men) place finishes, respectively.

In his first 23 seasons as leading Bulldog cross country, Einspahr has overseen nine combined conference titles (five men, four women) and 32 top 25 national finishes. His teams have placed as the national runner up a total of five times. Einspahr has also coached 16 individual GPAC champions with Sarah Kortze (2012) and Colin Morrissey (2012) being the most recent Bulldogs to take first at the conference meet.

Between 1994 and 2009, the Concordia women finished ranked inside the nation’s top 20 each year. The men achieved top 25 national rankings 10-straight seasons from 2001 to 2010 (runner up in 2009).

This year’s Bulldogs will return a past all-conference winner on both sides in the form of seniors Jordan Potrzeba and Kim Wood.

2015 GPAC men’s preseason rankings
1. Morningside
2. Northwestern
3. Dordt
4. Concordia
5. Midland
6. Doane
7. Hastings
8. Briar Cliff
9. Dakota Wesleyan
10. Mount Marty

2015 GPAC women’s preseason rankings
1. Dordt
2. Hastings
3. Concordia
4. Doane
5. Morningside
6. Mount Marty
7. Northwestern
8. Midland
9. Dakota Wesleyan
10. Briar Cliff
11. College of Saint Mary

*Nebraska Wesleyan is affiliated with NCAA DIII for cross country