Men's Cross Country | 8/24/2017 11:26:58 AM

Virtual Media Day LInk

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 24, 2017) – Missouri Southern, 2016 MIAA champion, received nine first place votes to earn the top spot in the MIAA Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll. In the women’s coaches poll Southwest Baptist, who also claimed the 2016 conference title, got ten first place votes to earn the highest spot.

In the men’s poll, Northwest Missouri earned two first place votes and are second in the poll, but sit just seven points ahead of Nebraska-Kearney in third. Southwest Baptist is three points behind the Lopers in fourth and just one point ahead of Pittsburg State who is fifth. The poll remains close as seven points behind the Gorillas are the Tigers of Fort Hays State who are just one point ahead of Lindenwood in sixth and seventh.

Central Missouri was picked eighth by the coaches with Washburn ninth, Emporia State tenth with Missouri Western 11th in their inaugural season of cross country.

In the women’s poll, Pittsburg State is 10 points behind Southwest Baptist and took two first place votes. Just five points behind the Gorillas is Fort Hays State who earned the remaining first place vote. Missouri Southern was picked fourth in the poll with Central Missouri rounding out the top five selections. Just one point behind the Jennies is Nebraska-Kearney who was picked sixth with Central Oklahoma selected seventh by the coaches.

Northwest Missouri earned the eighth spot just two points ahead of Emporia State who was ninth and seven points ahead of Lindenwood in tenth. Washburn was 11th, Missouri Western was 12th in their inaugural season with Lincoln picked 13th overall.

Most teams will take to the course on the weekend of Sept. 1-2 teams scheduled to travel to Warrensburg, Mo. on Oct. 21 for the league championship at Keth Memorial Golf Course.

2017 MIAA Preseason Men’s Coaches Poll
1. Missouri Southern (9)       98
2. Northwest Missouri (2)     78
3. Nebraska-Kearney           71
4. Southwest Baptist            68
5. Pittsburg State                 67
6. Fort Hays State               60
7. Lindenwood                    59
8. Central Missouri              39
9. Washburn                        32
10. Emporia State               19
11. Missouri Western           14

2017 MIAA Preseason Women’s Coaches Poll
1. Southwest Baptist (10)     141
2. Pittsburg State (2)             131
3. Fort Hays State (1)           126
4. Missouri Southern             108
5. Central Missouri                  96
6. Nebraska-Kearney              95
7. Central Oklahoma               67
8. Northwest Missouri             56
9. Emporia State                     54
10. Lindenwood                      49
11. Washburn                          40
12. Missouri Western              35
13. Lincoln                              16