August 19, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State (S.D.) was selected to finish third in the 2026 Frontier Conference Men's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The Trojans collected 77 points in the 11-team preseason poll, finishing just one point ahead of Bellevue (Neb.), which was fourth with 76 points. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.
Defending conference champion Rocky Mountain (Mont.) was picked to repeat after receiving six first-place votes and 92 points. Carroll (Mont.) was just one point behind the Battlin' Bears with 91 points and three first-place votes.
Montana Tech rounded out the top five with 68 points. Bismarck State (N.D.) was sixth with 54 points, followed by Dickinson State (N.D.) seventh with 53 points and Valley City State (N.D.) eighth with 32 points. MSU-Northern and Montana Western tied for ninth with 25 points each, while Providence (Mont.) was 11
th with 12 points.
Rocky Mountain captured the 2025 Frontier Conference team championship with 38 points at Amend Park in Billings, ending Carroll's run of four consecutive conference championships. The Fighting Saints finished second with 50 points. Dakota State was fifth in the inaugural Frontier Conference meet last season.
The Trojans begin their 2026 season Sept. 4 at the Augustana Twilight in Sioux Falls, S.D. The men's four-mile race is scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
Dakota State will compete in five regular season meets before returning to Billings for the Frontier Conference Championships on Nov. 6. Rocky Mountain will host the championship at Amend Park for the second consecutive season.
The Frontier Conference team champion earns the league's automatic berth to the NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championships, scheduled for Nov. 20 at Fort Vancouver Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash.
2026 Frontier Conference Men's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll
| Rank |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (6) |
92 |
| 2 |
Carroll (Mont.) (3) |
91 |
| 3 |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
77 |
| 4 |
Bellevue (Neb.) |
76 |
| 5 |
Montana Tech |
68 |
| 6 |
Bismarck State (N.D.) |
54 |
| 7 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
53 |
| 8 |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
32 |
| T-9 |
MSU-Northern |
25 |
| T-9 |
Montana Western |
25 |
| 11 |
Providence (Mont.) |
12 |
