Southern men picked
first, women second in MIAA Preseason Coaches Polls
Overland Park, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern men's cross country
team was a unanimous selection to repeat as champs and the women
were just edged out by Pittsburg State in the 2007 MIAA Men's
and Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Polls as released by
the league office today.
The men received every first
place vote for a perfect score of 49 points. The defending
champions, and winners of six of the last seven MIAA Titles,
return four of the five scorers from last year's team including
junior Dustin Dixon (third) and seniors Ryan Arthur (ninth) and
Kyle Davis (10th). Senior Dustin Miller, third place in 2005,
returns after redshirting last season.
Central Missouri, the only team
other than Southern to win a title in the last seven years, was
picked second. The Mules were followed by Fort Hays, Pittsburg
State, Southwest Baptist, Truman State, Northwest Missouri and
Emporia State.
The Southern women received just
one point fewer than the preseason favorite Pittsburg State. The
Lions are the defending champions and return two All-MIAA
performers in sophomore Kimi Shank (seventh) and junior Alison
Walker (eighth). Southern returns all of its top five scorers
from a season ago including junior Kara Eckard (13th), and
sophomores Courtney Waltbillig (15th) and Ashley Bunch (24th).
PSU received five of the eight
first place votes to score 45 points. Southern had three top
votes for 44 points and the Lions were followed by Central
Missouri, Southwest Baptist, Fort Hays, Truman State, Emporia
State, and Northwest Missouri.
Both the men and the women will
open up the 2007 cross country season at the University of
Arkansas on September 7. Southern is host to both the NCAA
Division II South Central Regional and the NCAA Division II
National Championships this year.
|
