SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Appalachian State men's cross country team and the UNCG women have been selected as the 2011 preseason favorites, as voted by the league's coaches.

The Mountaineer men's team, winners of six straight SoCon championship titles, received ten first-place to give them a total of 100 points.

The Mountaineers return five runners who finished in the top 20 at the conference championship last fall. Among those returners are three who were named second-team all-conference.

UNCG was picked second with 89 points. The Spartans, who received one first-place vote, were the 2010 conference runner-up. Davidson and Chattanooga tied in third place in the preseason balloting with 78 points.

On the women's side, UNCG was selected the preseason favorite after taking third place in 2010.  The Spartans received 10 first-place votes and return four runners who finished in the top 20 at last year's championship, including Ashley Schnell who won the league's individual title.

Samford, the 2010 SoCon Champions, received one first-place vote and a total of 103 points, placing them second in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs return five competitors who competed at the championship, including Lauren D'Alessio who finished second overall. The Appalachian State women (95 points) complete the top three.

Nine programs will begin the 2011 season the weekend of September 2, while the remaining teams open their seasons the following weekend.

The 2011 SoCon Championship will be held in Charleston, S.C., on October 29.

2011 Cross Country Preseason Polls

Men

Team (#1 Votes)                                   Points

1. Appalachian State (10)                       100

2. UNCG (1)                                             89

T3.Davidson                                         78

T3. Chattanooga                                    78

5. Furman                                             62

6. Elon                                                  56

7. Western Carolina                               42

8. College of Charleston                                    36

9. Samford                                           35

10. The Citadel                                      18

11. Wofford                                          10

Women (#1 Votes)                                Points

1. UNCG (10)                                         120

2. Samford (1)                                       103

3. Appalachian State                             95

4. Elon                                                  93

5. College of Charleston            (1)                    80

6. Furman                                             73

T7. Davidson                                        60

T7. Chattanooga                                    60

9. Western Carolina                               45

10. Wofford                                          25

11. The Citadel                                      23

12. Georgia Southern                             14