The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s and women’s cross country teams were selected to finish second this season in the Southern Conference Coaches’ Preseason poll released today by the league office.
The men’s team placed third last season behind Furman and Appalachian State.
The Paladins placed four runners in the Top 14 last season to claim the title and are picked to repeat this season. Furman received nine of the 10 first place votes for 81 points in the poll and the remaining vote went to Samford who was fourth with 58 points.
Returning SoCon member East Tennessee State placed third in the voting with 64 points and UNCG was fifth with 58 points. Rounding out the poll is Western Carolina (43), VMI (36), The Citadel (21), Wofford (18) and Mercer (16).
The Mocs return juniors Paul Stuart (Brentwood, Tenn.) Trevor Janssen (Jordan Station, Ontario) along with senior John Gilpin (Nashville, Tenn.).
On the women’s side, the Paladins received nine of 10 first place votes for 81points with Western Carolina receiving the last vote. Chattanooga was second with 63 votes followed by Samford with 61 and East Tennessee State with 60. UNCG was fifth with 50 points while the Catamounts finished sixth in the voting with 43 points. Newcomers Mercer and VMI tied for seventh with 26 points Wofford (25) was ninth and The Citadel last with 15 points.
The Mocs return 2013 SoCon Runner of the Year and All-American Teghan Henderson (Pickering, Ontario) to the line up along with Amanda Cotter (Bristol, Conn.), Rebecca Greenwall (Bogart, Ga.), Keeley Stewart (Winchester, Tenn.) and Jessica York (Normandy, Tenn.).
The season begins Friday, September 5 with the PowerAde Invitational at the Moccasin Bend Race Course.
The 2014 SoCon Cross Country Championship will be held on October 31 in Greensboro, N.C.
2014 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Men’s Cross Country
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1. Furman (9) 81
2. Chattanooga 66
3. East Tennessee State 64
4. Samford (1) 58
5. UNCG 47
6. Western Carolina 43
7. VMI 36
8. The Citadel 21
9. Wofford 18
10. Mercer 16
Women’s Cross Country
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1. Furman (9) 81
2. Chattanooga 63
3. Samford 61
4. East Tennessee State 60
5. UNCG 50
6. Western Carolina (1) 43
T7. Mercer 26
T7. VMI 26
9. Wofford 25
10. The Citadel 15