Covenant College, under the direction of Head Coach Katie Stanford, in her fifth season, was picked in the USA South Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll to capture the men's cross country title in 2015. The Scots earned their second consecutive USA South title at last year's championship meet. Covenant received four of eighth first place votes to go along with 46 points. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
Piedmont College finished second in the balloting with 42 points and three first place votes while Maryville College placed third with 39 points and the final remaining first place vote. Methodist University came in fourth place with 32 points as Averett University was fifth with 24 points. LaGrange College, William Peace University and Ferrum College concluded the poll with 21, 13 and seven points, respectively.
The men's cross country season gets underway on Friday, Sept. 4 as Covenant, LaGrange, Maryville, Piedmont and William Peace are in action. The USA South Cross Country Championship will be held at Hagan Stone Park in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday, Oct. 31. The men's 8,000 meter race will begin at noon while the women's 6,000 meter race will begin at 11 a.m.
2015 USA South Men's Cross Country Coaches Preseason Poll
|
Rank
|
Institution (1st Place Votes)
|
Pts.
|
1.
|
Covenant (4)
|
46
|
2.
|
Piedmont (3)
|
42
|
3.
|
Maryville (1)
|
39
|
4.
|
Methodist
|
32
|
5.
|
Averett
|
24
|
6.
|
LaGrange
|
21
|
7.
|
William Peace
|
13
|
8.
|
Ferrum
|
7
|