SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – With cross country seasons beginning this weekend, The Summit League announced the annual preseason poll on Tuesday. Both North Dakota cross country teams were tabbed fourth in the preseason poll, with the UND men receiving one first place vote.
Fighting Hawk cross country runners
Luke Labatte,
Jadyn Keeler,
McKenzie Burian and
Nelson Ruto were also named Athletes to Watch in the Summit League this season.
Labatte has garnered second team All-Summit League accolades twice in his career (2019, 2020-21). Last year, Labatte was the first Hawk to cross the finish line at the Summit League Championships, placing 17th in 25:38.8. He also paced the UND men at the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 98th-place finish in a time of 32:31.4. At the 2021 Ron Pynn Classic, Labatte was part of UND's individual 1-2-3 finish, taking third in a time of 18:19.2 to help the Fighting Hawks claim the team title.
Keeler finished just shy of All-Summit League accolades at the 2021 Summit League Cross Country Championships, crossing the finish line 16th with a time of 22:19.4. She made an immediate impact as a freshman, winning her first collegiate race in a time of 17:32.6 at the Ron Pynn Classic, helping the Fighting Hawks win the team crown. The following week, Keeler placed fourth at the SDSU Classic in 18:19.0 to help the Hawks pick up their second team title of the season.
Burian is a two-time member of the second team All-Summit League Team. She originally claimed the honor during the 2020-21 season, finishing ninth at the conference championship, running the 6K race in 22:33.4. Last season, Burian gained second team accolades for the second time of her career, finishing 14th at the Summit League Championships in a time of 22:16.4. She was also the second Hawk to cross the finish line at the 2021 NCAA Midwest Regional, taking 122nd in a time of 22:34.3. Last year, Burian opened the season at the Ron Pynn Classic and placed sixth with a time of 17:59.4, helping UND win the team title. The following week, Burian took 12th at the SDSU Classic and crossed the finish line in 18:46.2 to help UND pick up its second team title of the season. Burian also shined in the classroom and garnered Academic All-Summit League honors.
Ruto will be entering his first season with the cross country team after running with the UND track and field teams during both the indoor and outdoor seasons last year. During the indoor season, Ruto helped the distance medley relay team post the sixth-fastest time in school history, ran the fifth-fastest indoor 5,000-meter time in program history and had the fifth-quickest 3,000-meter time in UND history while claiming the title at the UND Tune-Up. Most recently, Ruto took third in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters at the Summit League Outdoor Championships. He also ran the third-fastest outdoor 5,000-meter time in school history and broke the school record in the 10,000 meters (29:49.79).
North Dakota will open the season on Friday, hosting the Ron Pynn Classic at the
Ray Richards Golf Course. The women's 5K race is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. (CT), followed by the men's race at 3:15 p.m. (CT).
2022 Summit League Men's Preseason Poll
| Name (First Place Votes) |
Votes |
| South Dakota State (7) |
49 |
| North Dakota State |
37 |
| St. Thomas |
36 |
| North Dakota (1) |
33 |
| South Dakota |
30 |
| Kansas City |
15 |
| Western Illinois |
13 |
| Oral Roberts |
11 |
2022 Summit League Women's Preseason Poll
| Name (First Place Votes) |
Votes |
| South Dakota State (8) |
64 |
| North Dakota State (1) |
56 |
| South Dakota |
47 |
| North Dakota |
42 |
| St. Thomas |
40 |
| Kansas City |
25 |
| Omaha |
20 |
| Western Illinois |
17 |
| Oral Roberts |
13 |
