University of North Texas Athletics
C-USA Announces Cross Country Coaches Polls
8/22/2018 12:27:00 PM | Cross Country
IRVING – The UNT men's and women's cross country teams were each picked in the top half of the league when the Conference USA cross country preseason coaches poll was released Wednesday.
On the men's side, North Texas was picked fourth of 11 teams behind first-place Charlotte, Middle Tennessee and Rice. The Mean Green women were picked fifth out of 13 teams behind Charlotte, Southern Miss, Rice and Middle Tennessee.
"The men return a very good group," cross country coach Kevin Williams said. "Last year, [sophomore Jack] Beaumont was the second best freshman in the region, and last year we didn't have [junior Florian] Lussy, who was one of our best runners two years and the conference runner-up this past season in the 10k. With those two up front it should be a really good team, and we have a lot more depth this year than teams in the past. After our top two, we have four or five guys who could be interchangeable given the day."
The women's outlook is a bit cloudier, as Williams said they will be without their top runner from last year, Susanna Lynch. She finished third at the conference meet a year ago but is now dealing with injury.
"We're going to rely on some younger athletes to step up," Williams said. "[senior Rea] Iseli was our second-best runner last year and should have a great year. We're looking for a big season from [senior] Cassidy Adams, who really had a breakthrough year last spring [in steeplechase]."
The teams will kick off the season on Aug. 31 at the Baylor Twilight meet in Waco before the Ken Garland Invite in Denton on Sept. 15.
C-USA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Charlotte (8)
2. Middle Tennessee (2)
3. Rice
4. North Texas
5. UTEP (1)
6. Marshall
7. UT San Antonio
8. Western Kentucky
9. Louisiana Tech
10. Florida Atlantic
11. Florida International
C-USA Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Charlotte (5)
2. Southern Miss (4)
3. Rice (3)
4. Middle Tennessee (1)
5. North Texas
6. UAB
7. UTEP
8. Marshall
9. Florida International
10. UT San Antonio
11. Florida Atlantic
12. Western Kentucky
13. Louisiana Tech
