PELLA—Central College's men's and women's cross country teams are both in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's preseason Division III regional rankings.
           
The Dutch women debut at No. 5 in the Midwest Region while the men are No. 7. Wartburg College is at No. 1 in both polls with the University of Chicago second in the women's poll and Washington University in St. Louis at No. 2 in the men's poll. Loras College is at No. 4 in the women's rankings with Central at No. 5 and Simpson College at No. 7. The Dutch are up a notch from last season's year-end rankings, when they placed sixth in the 24-team regional championships.
           
Central returns four of last year's top seven runners, led by NCAA Division III national qualifier Caroline McMartin (junior, Pella).
           
Loras and Simpson are at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, in the men's rankings, with Central at No. 7 and Luther College at No. 8. Central closed last season at No. 6 in the region, matching the team's finish in the 30-team regional championship meet.
           
The Dutch have four of last season's top seven back, including national meet qualifier Caleb Silver (senior, Conrad, BCLUW HS).
           
The season launches with the Central Dutch Invitational next Friday on the campus cross country course in the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex. The women's race starts at 6 p.m. with the men's race at 6:45 p.m.