ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s cross country team has been selected as the favorite in the Southern Conference 2013 Cross Country Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on today, Aug. 21.
This is the second straight season that the women’s squad has been tabbed as the favorite by the league’s coaches. The Phoenix women received five first-place votes and a total of 93 points overall. Elon finished as the runner-up in last year’s SoCon Championships – just four points shy of the league crown – and returns five of its top seven runners from a year ago.
The Phoenix edged out Furman in the top spot, who received four first-place votes. UNCG earned two first-place votes, but was placed fifth in the poll behind Samford and reigning league champion Appalachian State.
The men’s team was placed eighth in the preseason poll, receiving 25 total points. The maroon and gold returns Luis Vargas, who became the first Elon male to earn first team All-SoCon honors after recording a sixth-place finish at the 2012 league championships.
Furman and UNCG tied for first atop the men’s poll, with the Spartans earning six first-place votes to lead the conference. Furman received two first-place votes along with Chattanooga, who was tabbed third.
The Elon cross country programs will begin its 2013 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30, at the Demon Deacon Quad in Winston Salem, N.C.
2013 Cross Country Preseason Polls
Women Team (first-place votes) Points 1. Elon (5) 93 2. Furman (4) 86 3. Samford 79 4. Appalachian State 76 5. UNCG (2) 61 6. Davidson 58 7. Western Carolina 48 8. Chattanooga 40 9. Wofford 28 10. Georgia Southern 20 11. The Citadel 16 Men Team (first-place votes) Points T1. Furman (2) 73 T1. UNCG (6) 73 3. Chattanooga (2) 65 4. Appalachian State 64 5. Davidson 48 6. Samford 42 7. Western Carolina 31 8. Elon 25 9. The Citadel 19 10. Wofford 10