Men’s Cross Country Debuts 14th in USTFCCCA Preseason National Poll, First in Region

The Hope College men's cross country team is starting the 2026 season running with the best in the nation.

The Flying Dutch stand 21st in the first United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national poll for NCAA Division III and first in the Great Lakes Region rankings.

In the national poll, Hope finished with 104 points.

Led by head coach Mark Northuis '82, the Flying Dutch return most of their all-region selections from last season that propelled them to Great Lakes Regional and MIAA championships. Junior Logan Begeman of Portage, Michigan (Portage Central) leads the pack after placing eighth in the 2025 NCAA regional and first at the MIAA Championships.

Hope also brings back decorated standouts such as senior Nile Devers of Gobles, Michigan (Gobles), juniors Cooper Jacobsen of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern) and Elias Kretchmar of Granville, Ohio (Granville), and sophomores Aiden Moore of Battle Creek, Michigan (Lakeview) and Elijah Forbord of Howell, Michigan (Brighton).

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse topped the poll with 290 points.

The Flying Dutch are scheduled to begin the season on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. at The University of Olivet Comet Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

Logan Begeman: Sophomore; Mechanical Engineering

Cooper Jacobsen: Sophomore; Exercise Science

Elias Kretchmar: Sophomore; Mechanical Engineering

Nile Devers: Junior; Exercise Science

Elijah Forbord: Freshman

Aiden Moore: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Logan Begeman
: Sophomore; Mechanical Engineering

Cooper Jacobsen
: Sophomore; Exercise Science

Elias Kretchmar
: Sophomore; Mechanical Engineering

Nile Devers
: Junior; Exercise Science

Elijah Forbord
: Freshman

Aiden Moore
: Freshman