Photo - WKU Athletics
With cross country season just around the corner, Conference USA has announced the 2017 Men’s and Women’s Preseason Polls which features the Hilltoppers ranking ninth with the Lady Toppers tabbed 11th in the league.
Middle Tennessee edged out UTEP by two first place votes for the top spot in the men’s preseason poll, collecting six votes to the Miners’ four. Charlotte, North Texas and Rice rounded out the top five followed by Marshall, UTSA Louisiana Tech, WKU, Florida Atlantic and FIU to fill the 11-team field.
On the women’s side, Rice was again predicted to win the C-USA champion with six first place votes while Middle Tennessee ranked second with three top votes. The top five was rounded out by UTEP (two first-place votes), Southern Miss (one first-place vote) and Charlotte. North Texas grabbed the sixth spot followed by UBA, Marshall, UTSA and Florida Atlantic to round out the top 10. WKU finished 11th in the poll while Louisiana Tech and FIU rounded out the teams.
WKU will kick off its season in a week and a half at the Tennessee Tech-hosted Golden Eagle Invitational.
(Courtesy WKU Athletics)
