University of North Texas Athletics
Men Picked Fifth, Women Ninth in C-USA Cross Country Poll
8/31/2021 1:00:00 PM | Cross Country
DALLAS – The 2021 Conference USA Cross Country Preseason Poll was released with North Texas men slated to finish fifth and the Mean Green women ninth, the league announced Tuesday.
Charlotte, the 2020 C-USA Champion on the men's side, was favored to win in the poll which is voted on by the league's coaches. The two-time defending C-USA Women's Cross Country Champion Middle Tennessee was named the favorite this year.
In 2020, North Texas earned three all-conference accolades at the C-USA Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships with the men finishing fourth and the women concluding in ninth.
At the 2020 Championships, Alec Esposito ran a personal best 24:56.20 to finish 13th and garner second team all-conference honors. Caleb Bouchard came in 15th at 24:58.29 to attain third team accolades. Erika Barrett clocked a career-best 22:20.44 in the 6K as the 18th finisher at the championships to earn a spot on the third team.
2021 C-USA Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Middle Tennessee (12)
2. Charlotte (1)
3. Rice
4. Southern Miss
5. UTEP
6. UAB
7. Marshall
8. FAU
9. UNT
10. FIU
T11. WKU
T11. UTSA
13. La Tech
2021 C-USA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Charlotte (10)
2. Middle Tennessee (1)
3. Rice
4. UTEP
5. North Texas
6. Marshall
7. Western Kentucky
8. UTSA
9. La Tech
10. FIU
11. FAU
Charlotte, the 2020 C-USA Champion on the men's side, was favored to win in the poll which is voted on by the league's coaches. The two-time defending C-USA Women's Cross Country Champion Middle Tennessee was named the favorite this year.
In 2020, North Texas earned three all-conference accolades at the C-USA Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships with the men finishing fourth and the women concluding in ninth.
At the 2020 Championships, Alec Esposito ran a personal best 24:56.20 to finish 13th and garner second team all-conference honors. Caleb Bouchard came in 15th at 24:58.29 to attain third team accolades. Erika Barrett clocked a career-best 22:20.44 in the 6K as the 18th finisher at the championships to earn a spot on the third team.
2021 C-USA Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Middle Tennessee (12)
2. Charlotte (1)
3. Rice
4. Southern Miss
5. UTEP
6. UAB
7. Marshall
8. FAU
9. UNT
10. FIU
T11. WKU
T11. UTSA
13. La Tech
2021 C-USA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Charlotte (10)
2. Middle Tennessee (1)
3. Rice
4. UTEP
5. North Texas
6. Marshall
7. Western Kentucky
8. UTSA
9. La Tech
10. FIU
11. FAU
Players Mentioned
Thursday, May 02
Monday, April 10
Friday, July 08
Friday, July 08