The South Atlantic Conference Announces Cross Country Preseason Polls

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Mars Hill men's and the Wingate women's cross country teams were picked to win the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Cross Country titles, the League announced today.  The Lions recorded eight first-place bids to finish with 121 points, while the Bulldogs' squad picked up eight top votes and 125 points as member institutions aren't allowed to vote for their own teams.

The Lions have a won a SAC-record 18-straight men's cross country titles and posted five runners in the Top 10 at the 2014 South Atlantic Conference Men's Cross Country Championship.

Queens placed second in the men's voting as the Royals notched three top bids and 115 points, while Wingate rounded out the top three with one first-place vote and 102 points.

The Royals placed second at the 2014 SAC Cross Country Championship to go along with a top individual finish by then senior Felix Duchampt.  Wingate came in third at last year's SAC championship.

At No. 4 in the poll was Lenoir-Rhyne with 90 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial at No. 5 as it garnered 81 points to round out the top five.

The Bears took home fourth place a season-ago at the SAC championship, while the Railsplitters finished sixth overall.

The coaches voted Anderson at No. 6 as it picked up 71 points and Coker's 55 points were good for No. 7.  Catawba placed eighth in the poll with 43 points.

Tusculum and Carson-Newman tied for the No. 9 spot with 42 points each, while Brevard (25 points) and Newberry (16 points) closed out the poll for the men.

On the women's side, Wingate won its second-straight South Atlantic Conference women's cross country title during the 2014 season.  The Bulldogs put five runners in the top 13, highlighted by Alyssa Johnson's fourth-place finish.

Queen's finished second in the women's voting with four top votes and 114 points and in third was Anderson with 100 points. 

At the 2014 SAC women's championship, Queens' then senior Megan Wright won the individual crown, while teammate Catie Byrd finished second.  Anderson finished third at the 2014 SAC championship as Haylee Love took home SAC Freshman of the Year honors with her eighth-place finish.

Lenoir-Rhyne picked up 86 points to garner the No. 4 spot in the poll and Lincoln Memorial finished up the top five for the women with 83 points.

The Bears and Railsplitters finished fourth and fifth, respectively at the 2014 South Atlantic Conference Women's Cross Country Championship in 2014.

Mars Hill collected 77 points from the panel to place sixth in the poll, ahead of Brevard, who picked up 48 points. Coker earned the No. 8 spot with 47 points, while Carson-Newman came in at No. 9 with 40 points.  Tusculum (31 points), Catawba (30 points) and Newberry (18 points) wrapped up the poll for the women.

The 2015 South Atlantic Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country season is set to get underway on Friday, Sept. 5.

Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll