With 305 points, defending Southern States Athletic Conference champions Dalton State was picked 15th in the 2016 NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll released Wednesday by the national office.
The Roadrunners finished 11th in the 2015 NAIA Championship Meet in Charlotte.
“We are grateful for the respect given to us by coaches nationally,” said DS Co-Coach Andy Meyer, “It’s a great achievement resulting from all of the hard work that our guys have put in during past years.”
This year’s Roadrunner men’s team will have a lot of new faces. “They must live up to this tradition and prove they are deserving of this respect. It’s a challenge and honor I believe these young men are worthy and capable of reaching.”
St. Francis (Ill.) claimed the No. 1 spot. They were No. 4 in the 2015 Postseason Top 25 after being in the Top 10 all season. Three-time defending national champion Oklahoma City opens this season in the No. 2 spot.
Dalton State is the only SSAC men’s team in the Top 25. Bethel (Tn.) received three points.
2016 NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll
|
RANK
|
LAST
|
SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)
|
TOTAL POINTS
|
|
1
|
4
|
St. Francis (Ill.) (7)
|
511
|
|
2
|
1
|
Oklahoma City (9)
|
499
|
|
3
|
5
|
British Columbia (1)
|
483
|
|
4
|
15
|
Southern Oregon (2)
|
481
|
|
5
|
2
|
Saint Mary (Kan.)
|
470
|
|
6
|
6
|
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
|
439
|
|
7
|
9
|
The Master’s (Calif.)
|
436
|
|
8
|
17
|
Marian (Ind.)
|
404
|
|
9
|
12
|
SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
|
371
|
|
10
|
10
|
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
|
350
|
|
11
|
7
|
College of Idaho
|
339
|
|
12
|
16
|
Bacone (Okla.)
|
331
|
|
13
|
13
|
Aquinas (Mich.)
|
320
|
|
14
|
20
|
Taylor (Ind.)
|
319
|
|
15
|
11
|
Dalton State
|
305
|
|
16
|
8
|
Carroll (Mont.)
|
266
|
|
17
|
3
|
Indiana Wesleyan
|
240
|
|
18
|
RV
|
Northwestern (Iowa)
|
219
|
|
19
|
14
|
Indiana Tech
|
218
|
|
20
|
RV
|
Shawnee State (Ohio)
|
189
|
|
21
|
NR
|
Northwest Christian (Ore.)
|
183
|
|
22
|
25
|
Biola (Calif.)
|
153
|
|
23
|
22
|
Columbia (Mo.)
|
149
|
|
24
|
RV
|
Morningside (Iowa)
|
145
|
|
25
|
23
|
Wayland Baptist (Texas)
|
129
|
|
|
|
|
|
Others receiving votes: Milligan (Tenn.) 86; Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 84; Westmont (Calif.) 71; Cumberlands (Ky.) 65; Doane (Neb.) 45; Oregon Tech 40; Cornerstone (Mich.) 37; Bethel (Ind.) 32; Campbellsville (Ky.) 18; Dordt (Iowa) 17; Eastern Oregon 5; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 3; Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 3; Bethel (Tenn.) 3; Mount Mercy (Iowa) 3.