University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Cross County Picked 6th & 7th in Big South Preseason Poll
08.18.2009 | Cross Country
Liberty was picked to win the men's crown. Coastal Carolina was tapped to win the women's title.
The Flames, who are looking to win their fifth-straight Big South Men's Cross Country title, landed eight first-place votes and 98 out of a possible 100 points. Liberty, led by 2008 national runner-up Sam Chelanga, finished ahead of High Point who picked up two first-place votes and 88 points. The Panthers placed two runners in the top 10 to finish second at the 2008 Big South Championship. In third-place was VMI with 82 points, followed by Coastal Carolina's 69 points and Winthrop's 55 points to round out the top five. UNC Asheville received 53 points to land in the No. 6 slot, while Gardner-Webb garnered 36 points for the seventh position. Coming in at No. 8 was Radford with 35 points, followed by Charleston Southern with 22 points. Presbyterian rounded out the voting for the men with 12 points.
After capturing the 2008 women's crown, the Chanticleers tallied six top votes and 95 out of a possible 100 points to win the 2009 crown. Coastal Carolina put three runners in the top 10 in the 2008 Big South Championship race and finished ahead of Liberty, who picked up three No. 1 votes and 91 points. In third place was High Point with 82 points, and in the No. 4 position was Winthrop with 64 points. VMI totaled 57 points to finish fifth, followed by Radford with 54 points and UNC Asheville with 39 points. At the No. 8 slot was Gardner-Webb who collected 38 points, while Charleston Southern (17 points) and Presbyterian (13 points) completed the voting for the women.
"We hope to finish a little higher to where we're predicted to finish," stated UNC Asheville coach Jesse Norman. "The polls are interesting but all of the teams still have to get the job done in the meets."
The Bulldog harriers open the 2009 season at the Western Carolina Invitational in Cullowhee on Sept. 4.
