Men Second in National Preseason Poll
8/25/2010 3:18:24 PM
NEW ORLEANS – The Western State College men’s cross country team was picked to repeat as national runner-up in the 2010 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason poll released this afternoon. The Mountaineer women were picked to finish ninth.
The men return four All-Americans in David Flynn, Sean Brown, Loren Ahonen and Tyler Pennel. The Mountaineers have finished as the national runner-up the last three seasons and will be vying for their eighth Division II national championship and ninth overall this season.
The RMAC has four teams listed in the top 25, including the top three in Adams State, Western State and Colorado School of Mines.
The women finished ninth a year ago with returning All-American Hillory Davis. Julianne Payton, a 2008 All-American who redshirted last season, is expected to return to the lineup along with a core of underclassmen that competed in the national championships last season.
The Mountaineers host the annual Time Trials Saturday at Tomichi Village beginning at 9 a.m. The regular season starts Sept. 11 at the Colorado State Invitational.
Men's National Poll (Aug. 25)
1. Adams State
2. Western State
3. Colorado Mines
4. Grand Valley State
5. Chico State
6. Western Washington
7. Queens
8. Southern Indiana
9. Harding
10. Augustana
11. Shippensburg
12. Edinboro
13. Massachusetts-Lowell
14. Metro State
15. Lock Haven
16. Alaska Anchorage
17. American International
18. Drury
19. Stonehill
20. Western Oregon
21. Columbus State
22. Tarleton State
23. Pittsburg State
24. Bellarmine
25. Fort Hays State
Women's National Poll (Aug. 25)
1. Adams State
2. Grand Valley State
3. Alaska Anchorage
4. Shippensburg
5. Chico State
6. Minnesota, Duluth
7. Western Washington
8. Missouri Southern
9. Western State
10. Tampa
11. Augustana
12. Ferris State
13. Southern Indiana
14. Seattle Pacific
15. Truman
16. Stonehill
17. Kutztown
18. Slippery Rock
19. Pittsburg State
20. Mary
21. Ashland
22. Northwest Missouri State
23. Columbus State
24. Queens
25. Southern Connecticut