BISMARCK, N.D. -- In an announcement by the North Star Athletic Association today, the Bellevue University women's cross country team is picked to finish in fifth place in the league in 2024.

The Bruins return three letterwinners from last season's squad that finished in sixth place at the 2023 NSAA Championships. Headlining the returners is two-time NSAA champion, Madison Nelson. Nelson won the NSAA individual title in 2021 and 2022 and finished second in 2023. She is a three-time qualifier for the NAIA National Championships and a three-time All-American. 

Dickinson State (N.D.) is the NSAA Women's Cross Country coaches' preseason favorite to repeat as league champion. Coaches could vote for their own team.

The Blue Hawks, who won the 2023 conference meet title, collected three first-place votes and 22 points.  Dakota State (S.D.) trailed by one point, earning 21 points to finish second.  The Trojans picked up the final two first-place votes in the conference preseason poll.

Jamestown (N.D.), returning to the North Star this season for the first time since 2017-18, placed third in the preseason poll with 16 points.  Valley City State (N.D.) finished fourth with nine points, followed by Bellevue at fifth with seven points.

Valley City State will be the host site for this year's NSAA Cross Country Championships on Friday, Nov. 8. The NSAA Championships are set to take place at Bjornson Park Golf Course in Valley City, N.D.

The team winner of the conference meet will represent the North Star Athletic Association in the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo., on Friday, Nov. 22.