The South Atlantic Conference Announces 2016 Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Queens men and the Wingate women's cross-country teams were picked to win the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Cross Country titles, the League announced today. Queens recorded 11 first-place bids to finish with 131 points, while the Bulldogs also picked up 11 top votes and 121 points, as member institutions aren't allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Mars Hill Lions had won a SAC-record 18-straight men's cross country titles until Queens University ended their run last year at the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Men's Cross Country Championship.
Mars Hill placed second in the men's voting as the Lions notched one top vote and 111 points, while Anderson rounded out the top three with 98 points.
At No. 4 in the poll was Wingate with 87 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial at No. 5 as it garnered 81 points to round out the top five.
The coaches voted Catawba sixth with 67 points and Coker's 58 points were good for seventh. Lenoir-Rhyne placed eighth in the poll with 50 points.
Brevard tallied 35 points to finish in ninth place. Carson-Newman recorded 32 points for the 10th spot, while Tusculum (27 points) and Newberry (12 points) closed out the poll for the men.
On the women's side, Wingate won its third-straight South Atlantic Conference women's cross-country title during the 2015 season. The Bulldogs put eight runners in the top 16 at the championship, highlighted by Alyssa Johnson's second-place finish.
Queens finished second in the women's voting with one top vote and 119 points and Andersonplaced third with 101 points.
Carson-Newman picked up 81 points to garner the No. 4 spot in the poll and Coker finished up the top five for the women with 76 points.
Lincoln Memorial collected 73 points from the panel to place sixth in the poll, ahead of Catawba, who picked up 62 points. Mars Hill earned the No. 8 spot with 51 points, while Lenoir-Rhynecame in at No. 9 with 45 points. Tusculum (29 points), Brevard (17 points) and Newberry (11 points) wrapped up the poll for the women.
The 2016 South Atlantic Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country season is set to get underway on Friday, Sept. 2.
Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
|
Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. |
Queens (11) |
131 |
|
2. |
Mars Hill (1) |
111 |
|
3. |
Anderson |
98 |
|
4. |
Wingate |
87 |
|
5. |
Lincoln Memorial |
81 |
|
6. |
Catawba |
67 |
|
7. |
Coker |
58 |
|
8. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
50 |
|
9. |
Brevard |
35 |
|
10. |
Carson-Newman |
32 |
|
11. |
Tusculum |
27 |
|
12. |
Newberry |
12 |
Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
|
Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. |
Wingate (11) |
121 |
|
2. |
Queens (1) |
119 |
|
3. |
Anderson |
101 |
|
4. |
Carson-Newman |
86 |
|
5. |
Coker |
76 |
|
6. |
Lincoln Memorial |
73 |
|
7. |
Catawba |
62 |
|
8. |
Mars Hill |
51 |
|
9. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
45 |
|
10. |
Tusculum |
29 |
|
11. |
Brevard |
17 |
|
12. |
Newberry |
11 |