St. Scholastica will open the season not only as the favorite to win the UMAC, but ranked 10th in the preseason Central Region rankings put out by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
The Saints return All-Region and All-American Casey Hovland, a senior from North Branch, who finished 33rd last year at the NCAA Division III championship.
The Saints are the lone UMAC school in the women's Central Region rankings, which are topped by St. Olaf. The UMAC was shut out of the men's rankings.
