SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Southern Conference cross country head coaches have selected Appalachian State to win the men’s 2005 title and Chattanooga to repeat their 2004 victory.  Chattanooga’s women beat out Appalachian State for the preseason honor, sweeping the first place votes and a total of 100 points. Davidson is picked third with 81 points.  Furman received 78 points taking fourth. College of Charleston is picked to finish fifth with 55 points and Elon edges out Western Carolina with 50 points for sixth place.

The Chattanooga women, led by Coach of the Year Bill Gautier, swept the 2004 crown, topping the Mountaineer women by 25 points to claim their first title since 2001. UTC was led by their own Shannon Wommack with a first place time of 17:38.95. Wommack was followed closely by teammates Kathleen Turchin (17:50.28) and Lanni Marchant (18:00.98). Appalachian State’s Katie Sujkowski took fourth with a time of 18:12.51.

On the men’s side, Appalachian State was chosen to finish first in the preseason poll tallying 88 points and receiving seven of ten first place votes, despite Chattanooga’s finish at last year’s championship.  Chattanooga followed in a close second with 80 points and three first place votes. Furman is slated to finish third, followed by Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro.

The results of this year’s poll reiterates the tug-of-war between Appalachian State and Chattanooga.  Last season, the two teams tied for first place in the preseason poll, but Chattanooga walked away with the title for the second year in a row with the help of back-to-back individual title holder, senior Steven Kocsis, with a time of 25:34.82.

The 2005 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships will be held at the Eagle Creek Golf Course in Statesboro, GA, on Sunday, October 30.

Southern Conference Women’s Cross Country Poll

1. Chattanooga (10) 100

2. Appalachian State 85

3. Davidson 81

4. Furman 78

5. College of Charleston 55

6. Elon 50

7. Western Carolina 49

8. UNC Greensboro 47

9. Georgia Southern 28

10. The Citadel 18

11. Wofford 14

Southern Conference Men’s Cross Country Poll

1. Appalachian State (7) 88

2. Chattanooga (3) 80

3. Furman 76

4. Western Carolina 60

5. UNC Greensboro 58

6. Davidson 57

7. Elon 41

8. The Citadel 33

9. College of Charleston 29

10. Wofford 18

--SoCon--