2026 Preseason Cross Country Ratings:
· GPAC Women | NAIA Women
SEWARD, Neb. – Both Concordia University, Nebraska Cross Country teams will open their 2026 seasons with GPAC preseason ratings of third. That’s where the Bulldogs landed in the league coaches’ polls released on Monday (Aug. 24) by the GPAC office. The top two on the men’s side are Dordt and Doane while the top two on the women’s side are Dordt and College of Saint Mary. Additionally, the Concordia men’s team received votes in the official NAIA Preseason Rating.
Head Coach Matt Beisel enters his 11th season leading the cross country and track & field programs. Last fall, the Bulldogs emerged from the GPAC Cross Country Championships with place finishes of third for men and fifth for women. The returning GPAC All-Conference honorees include Keeli Green, Vaughn Hendrickson, Trey Robertson and Aidan Limback. Green went on to earn NAIA All-America honors at the national meet.
Both of Beisel’s squads return the bulk of their athletes who competed at the 2025 conference championships (all 10 on the women’s side and nine of 10 on the men’s side). Concordia also welcomed 20 newcomers to the cross country programs this fall semester.
The Bulldogs are slated to begin the 2026 season at the Augustana Twilight on Friday, Sept. 4. Season preview interviews with Coach Beisel, senior Aidan Limback and junior Alison Stepanek can be viewed via the Concordia Athletics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/concordiabulldogs.