SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the fifth straight year, the Furman men’s and women’s cross country teams were selected as the preseason favorites to take the Southern Conference titles, as voted by all 10 of the league’s coaches. The Paladins are the five-time reigning SoCon champions on both and men’s and the women’s side’s and earned the maximum possible first-place votes in both polls. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Returning runner of the year Aaron Templeton will lead the Paladins in 2018 after winning the men’s 8k race at the 2017 SoCon Cross Country Championships. Furman had seven men finish in the top 10 in the 8k race and six women placed in the top 10 in the 5k race.
In the men’s poll, ETSU received 73 points to place second and earned the remaining first-place vote. Checking in at third is Samford with 63 points, followed by Chattanooga with 55 points, VMI with 48 points and UNCG with 43. Rounding out spots 7-10 are Western Carolina (33), Wofford (26), The Citadel (16) and Mercer (12), respectively.
On the women’s side, ETSU received 69 points and the remaining first-place vote to claim second, while Samford followed closely behind with 68 points. The 4-6 spots were another close race with Chattanooga taking fourth with 50 points followed closely by UNCG with 49 points and Wofford with 48 points. Western Carolina (33), Mercer (25), VMI (17) and The Citadel (10) round out slots 7-10, respectively.
Eight of the 10 teams will kick off their seasons on Friday, Aug. 31, while the remaining two teams will open the season on Saturday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 16.
The 2018 SoCon Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Western Carolina and are slated for Saturday, Oct. 27, in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
2018 Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Furman (9) 81
2. ETSU (1) 73
3. Samford 63
4. Chattanooga 55
5. VMI 48
6. UNCG 43
7. Western Carolina 33
8. Wofford 26
9. The Citadel 16
10. Mercer 12
() denotes first-place votes
2018 Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Furman (9) 81
2. ETSU (1) 69
3. Samford 68
4. Chattanooga 50
5. UNCG 49
6. Wofford 48
7. Western Carolina 33
8. Mercer 25
9. VMI 17
10. The Citadel 10
() denotes first-place votes
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