MARQUETTE, Mich. - For the first time since October of 2019, the Northern Michigan Cross Country team is ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Poll, coming in at No. 15. 

After receiving votes last week, the Wildcats finished in 4th place out of 23 teams at the Lucian Rosa Invite, defeating several nationally-ranked teams ahead of them, including: CSU Pueblo (15th), Lee (12th), Minnesota State (24th), Cal Poly Pomona (26th), and Parkside (25th). Northern is also ranked 5th in the Midwest, trailing No. 1 Grand Valley State, No. 2 Cedarville, No. 3 Lewis, and No. 4 Walsh. 

Headlined by back-to-back GLIAC Athlete of the Week Madi Szymanski, the Green and Gold have finished in the top four of all three meets so far this season. Szymanski has led NMU in each race, finishing in 5th place at both the Phoenix Open and Roy Griak Invite, followed by a 9th-place finish at last weekend's Lucian Rosa Invite. 

The last time NMU was ranked this high was in the 2016 season. 

Northern will return to action on October 10 when they head south to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Royals Challenge.