The UNI cross country program is lacing up for its 2018 season.

On the women’s side, the Panthers are leaning towards another successful season. They are coming off a year that saw the program’s highest finish at a regional meet after claiming seventh overall at the NCAA Midwest Regional. UNI was picked to finish fourth in the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) preseason poll released this past week by the league.

Although the Panthers lost a couple of key runners in Ashley Norem and Tiffany Christensen, McKayla Cole is looking to encore her stellar 2017 season. Cole was named MVC Freshman of the Year last season and was tenth at the MVC Championships. The team was selected to finish first and took second place at the 2017 championships.

The men’s cross country team is looking for a more improved season. Last year, UNI finished seventh in the men’s competition. The biggest returning weapon lies within sophomore CJ May. May was picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll after finishing with a personal best at last year’s championships meet.

All in all, it is looking like the Panthers are looking to become a stronger force in the MVC and beyond this season. The UNI Track & Field program is set to open its season at the Hawkeye Invite on August 31st at 6pm.