Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communications, 630-637-5302
 
USTFCCCA National Preseason Poll
USTFCCCA Regional Preseason Poll
 
August 26, 2026 – With the 2026 cross country season set to get underway, North Central College men's cross country earned a spot in the nation's top 25 in the annual U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason Poll, with the Cardinals ranked No. 14.
 
Led by head coach Matt Sinnott, who enters his fifth season at the helm, North Central finished 10th at the 2025 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Cardinals also placed third at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships and extended their winning streak in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin to 51 consecutive conference titles.
 
North Central returns four members of last year's national championship squad, led by All-American BJ Sorg. Sorg placed 30th at the 2025 NCAA Championships and fourth at the Midwest Region Championships. Also returning for the Cardinals are Ari Elmayan, Jack Galminas and Nolan Crooks.
 
Wisconsin-La Crosse tops the national preseason poll, followed by Johns Hopkins University at No. 2 and New York University at No. 3. Wartburg College, which leads the Midwest Region, is ranked No. 4 nationally, while SUNY Geneseo rounds out the top five.
 
The Cardinals open the 2026 season Friday, Sept. 4 as they host the NCCXC Invitational at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Illinois.