The South Atlantic Conference Announces the 2023 Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll and Runners to Watch List
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Wingate was voted as the favorite to win the 2023 South Atlantic Conference Men's Cross Country title, the league office announced today.
The Bulldogs, who won the 2022 SAC Men's Cross Country Championship, the NCAA Southeast Region championship, and finished second in the NCAA DII Men's Cross Country National Championship, received 12 first place votes and tallied 144 points.
Catawba, No. 2 in the poll, snagged 130 points and one first place vote. Anderson followed at No. 3 with 125 points.
Lenoir-Rhyne earned the No. 4 spot with 110 points, while Carson-Newman claimed fifth in the preseason poll with 98 points. Lincoln Memorial earned the No. 6 spot with 91 points, followed by Limestone at No. 7 with 75 points.
Emory & Henry took the No. 8 spot with 60 points. Tusculum was No. 9 in the poll earning 57 points from the coaches.
In the No. 10 spot was UVA Wise with 42 points, while Mars Hill (33 points), Newberry (32), and Coker (17) wrapped up the preseason ranking at No. 11, No. 12, and No. 13, respectively.
In addition to the preseason coaches' poll, the SAC also released its 2023 Cross Country Runners to Watch list. Below is the full list of runners to watch by team during the 2023 season.
The 2023 SAC Cross Country Championships will take place October 21st at Southside Park in Newton, N.C.
2023 SAC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
School (First Place Votes) Points
- Wingate (12) 144
- Catawba (1) 130
- Anderson 125
- Lenoir-Rhyne 110
- Carson-Newman 98
- Lincoln Memorial 91
- Limestone 75
- Emory & Henry 60
- Tusculum 57
- UVA Wise 42
- Mars Hill 33
- Newberry 32
- Coker 17
2023 SAC CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS TO WATCH
Anderson
Men: Spain Vaughan and Elliot Dotson
Women: Emily Golden and Elise Matthews
Carson-Newman
Men: Colten Lee, Brent Borden
Women: Grace Lathrop, Katie Smock, Imke Van Gog
Catawba
Men: Erick Ramirez, Oussama Ajala
Women: Madison Clay, Raina Andrews
Coker
Men: Austin Bates
Women: Catherine Cann
Emory & Henry
Men: Matthew Klapak, Miles Baldwin, Kaleb Elswick
Women: Delaney Eller, Jessi Looney, Trinity Neff
Lenoir-Rhyne
Men: Jacob Parkinson
Women: Paige Ewald
Limestone
Men: Kennedy Stinson, Judson Taylor
Women: Khasmine Harris
Lincoln Memorial
Men: Ben Trimm
Women: Harper Russell
Mars Hill
Men: Maliki Pope
Women: Megan Van Etten
Newberry
Tusculum
Men: Pau Valdepenas
Women: Emily Coddington
UVA Wise
Men: Jonah Adams, Eric Hegg, Nick DeBoard
Women: Lydia Slemp, Alyssa McFalls, Alexsis Porter
Wingate
Men: Hamza Chahid, Cas Kopmels, Scott Nutter
Women: Grace Burrell, Brooklyn Pierce, Mollie Scott
