CROSS COUNTRY PICKED SECOND IN OVC POLLS
Friday, August 26 2016
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – In a preseason vote of head cross country coaches in the Ohio Valley Conference the Eastern Kentucky men's and women's teams were picked as the favorites for the 2016 season. Eastern Illinois was picked to finish second on both the men's and women's side after a runner-up finish at last year's OVC Championships.
Both Eastern Illinois teams return a pair of All-Ohio Valley Conference runners to lead them during the 2016 season. On the men's side seniors Riley McInerney and Paxson Menard return. The women have junior Maria Baldwin and senior Ivy Handley returning after earning All-OVC honors last year. The Panthers open the 2016 season on Friday, Sept. 2 hosting the Walt Crawford Invite at the Tom Woodall Panther Trail on EIU's campus.
On the men's side Eastern Kentucky (121 points, 11 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (107), Belmont (98), SIUE (82), Morehead State (79), Southeast Missouri (72), Tennessee Tech (60, 1 first-place vote), Murray State (55), Austin Peay and UT Martin (42 apiece), Jacksonville State (23) and Tennessee State (11).
On the women's side Eastern Kentucky (120 points, 10 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (108, 2 first-place votes), Southeast Missouri (95), Murray State (87), Belmont (81), UT Martin (64), Morehead State (63), SIUE (55), Tennessee Tech (51), Austin Peay (33), Jacksonville State (24) and Tennessee State (11).
The 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships will be held October 29 at the Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee. It marks the first time the championship has been there since 2009. The first regular season meets of the 2016 season occur on September 2-3.
Both Eastern Illinois teams return a pair of All-Ohio Valley Conference runners to lead them during the 2016 season. On the men's side seniors Riley McInerney and Paxson Menard return. The women have junior Maria Baldwin and senior Ivy Handley returning after earning All-OVC honors last year. The Panthers open the 2016 season on Friday, Sept. 2 hosting the Walt Crawford Invite at the Tom Woodall Panther Trail on EIU's campus.
On the men's side Eastern Kentucky (121 points, 11 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (107), Belmont (98), SIUE (82), Morehead State (79), Southeast Missouri (72), Tennessee Tech (60, 1 first-place vote), Murray State (55), Austin Peay and UT Martin (42 apiece), Jacksonville State (23) and Tennessee State (11).
On the women's side Eastern Kentucky (120 points, 10 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (108, 2 first-place votes), Southeast Missouri (95), Murray State (87), Belmont (81), UT Martin (64), Morehead State (63), SIUE (55), Tennessee Tech (51), Austin Peay (33), Jacksonville State (24) and Tennessee State (11).
The 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships will be held October 29 at the Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee. It marks the first time the championship has been there since 2009. The first regular season meets of the 2016 season occur on September 2-3.
2016 OVC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (11 first-place votes) 121
2. Eastern Illinois 107
3. Belmont 98
4. SIUE 82
5. Morehead State 79
6. Southeast Missouri 72
7. Tennessee Tech (1) 60
8. Murray State 55
9. Austin Peay 42
UT Martin 42
11. Jacksonville State 23
12. Tennessee State 11
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
2016 OVC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
TEAM POINTS
1. Eastern Kentucky (10 first-place votes) 120
2. Eastern Illinois (2) 108
3. Southeast Missouri 95
4. Murray State 87
5. Belmont 81
6. UT Martin 64
7. Morehead State 63
8. SIUE 55
9. Tennessee Tech 51
10. Austin Peay 33
11. Jacksonville State 24
12. Tennessee State 11
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)