Lions chosen sixth in SAC preseason poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) - Queens has been picked to repeat their performance in the men's cross country preseason poll, as announced by the conference office today.

The 2017 South Atlantic Conference champion Royals took 10 first-place votes and 110 total points in the 2018 voting. The Royals, who finished sixth at the NCAA National Championship last season, have four All-SAC performers returning for 2018, including the Freshman of the Year Nick Kipkemei.

Wingate solidified second in the preseason standings with the remaining first-place vote and 98 points. The Bulldogs finished as the runner-up at the 2017 championship. Returning in 2018 are two all-conference runners, including first team All-SAC performer Micah Kipchumba.  

Anderson claimed the No. 3 spot with 91 points. At last season's championship, the Trojans finished third. This year Anderson has two returning all-conference runners, including All-SAC second team runner Ben Clark.

Lincoln Memorial is No. 4 in the voting with 75 points to their credit, as Lenoir-Rhyne garnered the No. 5 spot with 74 points.

Mars Hill was placed in the No. 6 spot courtesy of 62 points. Catawba and Carson-Newman collected 57 and 50 points, respectively, on their way to seventh and eighth in the poll.

Tusculum was picked ninth after gathering 41 points, while Coker and Newberry rounded out the poll in the No. 10 and No. 11 spots, respectively. Coker earned 28 points and Newberry picked up 20.

Overall, 13 of the top-21 runners from the 2017 SAC Championship return for the 2018 season.

The 2018 SAC Men's Cross Country season gets underway on Friday, Aug. 31. 

2018 SAC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL