The Bemidji State University cross country team was tabbed 11th in the 2013 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Wednesday in an announcement from the league office. Sophomore Emily Turner (Bringham Lake, Minn.) was named BSU’s Athlete to Watch.
The Beavers received 62 votes to post the 11th spot in the poll, led by five-time defending champion Augustana College. Second with the two remaining first place votes was University of Mary with 166 points. Winona State University was third with 161 points.
Bemidji State tied for 11th at the 2012 NSIC Championships. Turner is the top runner returning to the Beavers after posting a time of 26:56 at last year’s championship to finish 70th overall. She was consistently a top finisher for BSU as a freshman, which included finishing 22nd with a time of 16:45 in the 4,000-meter Valley City State University Invitational – her first-collegiate race.
The Beavers will warm up to the 2013 season with the annual Babe Run in Bemidji, Minn. Aug. 26 before hearing the starting gun for the first official race Sept. 6, as they host the Greenwood Run beginning at 4 p.m.