The Calvin University men's cross country team was picked to finish third in the conference in the MIAA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll released on Friday.
 
The Knights finished the poll with 38 total points, trailing Hope College in first and Trine University in second place.
 
Last season under the direction of head coach Nicole Kramer, the Knights finished fourth at the MIAA Cross Country Championships with a total of 96 points.
 
This season, the Knights return All-MIAA Second Team honoree Vaughn Meyer (Dexter, Mich./Dexter), who finished 10th at the conference meet, while Pierce Bentley (Kalamazoo, Mich./Otsego) finished in the top 20 and also returns along with junior transfer Brewer Snay (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North/Oakland University) and a host of other young talent.
 
The Calvin men's cross country team will open its 2026 season at the Spartan Invitational on Friday, September 11.
 
The full results of the preseason poll are below:
 
1. Hope College (49 points, 7 first-place votes)
2. Trine University (41, 1)
3. Calvin University (38)
4. Kalamazoo College (32)
5. Adrian College (22)
t6. Albion College (16)
t6. The University of Olivet (16)
8. Alma College (10)