Men Third, Women Fourth in Big South Cross Country Preseason Poll

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Big South Conference unveiled its 2025 Preseason Cross Country Polls on Wednesday, Aug. 20, with the UNC Asheville men's team anticipated to finish third, and the UNC Asheville women's team predicted a fourth-place finish.

Six-time Big South defending champions Charleston Southern topped the polls for the men, stacking a total of eight first-place votes and 80 points. High Point was selected as league favorites in the women's poll after racking up nine first-place votes and 81 points, following its eighth consecutive victory at last year's championship.

2025 BIG SOUTH MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL

Rk - School (first-place votes)	Points
1 - Charleston Southern (8)	80
2 - High Point (1)	68
3 - UNC Asheville	66
4 - Radford	55
5 - USC Upstate	42
6 - Longwood	40
7 - Winthrop	23
8 - Gardner-Webb	18
9 - Presbyterian College	13

2025 BIG SOUTH WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL

Rk - School (first-place votes)	Points
1 - High Point (9)	81
2 - Charleston Southern	67
3 - Radford	66
4 - UNC Asheville	52
5 - Longwood	47
6 - USC Upstate	36
7 - Gardner-Webb	24
8 - Winthrop	20
9 - Presbyterian College	12

2024 SEASON RECAP

Both cross country teams had strong seasons despite facing adversity due to Helene, with the men hitting their stride at the Big South Championships to finish third, with three Bulldogs earning All-Conference honors. In the closest sprint finish for almost a decade, now graduated senior Adam Hessler charged to take second-place in a new school record time of 24:06.8. Leaving it all out on the course, Hessler reset the clock on the previous record from 2022 by ten seconds. Hessler was also named Runner of the Week following his performance at the Furman Invitational (Sept. 14).

Jan Málek secured a 10th-place finish in 24:46.4, claiming his spot on the All-Conference Second Team.

Asheville also brought home Freshman of the Year honors for the first time in 25 years and Big South Conference Runner of the Year honors for the first time in program history.

For the upcoming season, the Bulldogs return four of the nine Individuals who represented Asheville at the 2024 Big South Championships.

On the women's side, Aneta Kucerová led the Bulldog charge through the championship season and helped the team to a fourth-place finish at the Big South Championships. Kucerová placed 19th in 18:19.5, followed by Ella Moore at 18:25.7 in 21st place.

Kucerová also led the Bulldogs to their highest individual finish in program history at the Upstate Invite (Oct. 19), taking fourth place overall and finishing as the fastest freshman on the day in a personal best time of 17:57.5. Her performance at the Invite earned her Freshman of the Week honors, announced Oct. 23, and entered her at No. 7 on the Women's 5k Top Times list for Asheville.

Moore jumped from No.19 to No.14 on the Women's 6k Top Times list following her strong performance at the Furman Invitational. Moore crossed the line in 22:32.2 (24th), and was one of ten Bulldogs to set personal bests on the women's side. Addi Corl was next to cross the line for Asheville, finishing as the fastest freshman from the Big South and 37th overall (23:17.7) in her first collegiate 6k. Her efforts earned her Freshman of the Week honors, announced Sept. 18.

For the upcoming season, the Bulldogs return eight individuals who represented Asheville at the 2024 Big South Championships.

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