Central College opens at No. 8 in the USTFCCCA Division III Midwest Region men’s cross country rankings. Regions were realigned for 2021 with the Dutch and other American Rivers squads now competing with colleges from Illinois as well as Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.). Wartburg College is rated No. 1, followed by Washington-St. Louis and the University of Chicago.

The Dutch return nine of their top 10 runners from last year’s squad that placed fifth in the league following a pandemic-altered season. The season kicks off at home Friday, Sept. 3 with the Dutch Invitational at 6 p.m. on the campus cross country course at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex. The women’s race follows at 6:45 p.m.