OVC Cross Country Preseason Poll Released
Wednesday, August 20 2014EIU selected 3rd on women's side, 4th on the men's
EIU returns all of its runners that competed in the OVC Championships for the women last season as head coach Erin Howarth fielded a young squad comprised of freshmen and sophomores. Victoria Quarton earned second team All-OVC honors for EIU last year. On the men's side the Panthers must replace several veteran runners but do return second team All-OVC finisher Riley McInerney.
EIU opens its season on Friday, Sept. 5 hosting the EIU Walt Crawford Open at the EIU Panther Trail.
Last season the EKU men's team claimed its 22nd OVC championship and eighth in a row while the EKU women's program took home its 27th all-time title at the event held in Morehead, Ky.
On the men's side Eastern Kentucky (120 points, 10 first-place votes) was followed by Belmont (111, 2 first-place votes), Southeast Missouri (94), Eastern Illinois (92), Morehead State (84), SIUE (75), UT Martin (50), Murray State (42), Austin Peay (41), Tennessee Tech (40), Jacksonville State (32) and Tennessee State (11).
On the women's side Eastern Kentucky (121 points, 11 first-place votes) was followed Belmont (110 points, 1 first-place vote), Eastern Illinois (99), Southeast Missouri (94), Murray State (80), SIUE (61), Austin Peay (60), Morehead State (53), Jacksonville State (50), Tennessee Tech (31), UT Martin (21) and Tennessee State (12).
The 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships will be held November 1 at the Oxford Lake Park in Oxford, Alabama. It marks the second time in the past three years the Championship has been contested on that course. The first regular season action of the 2014 season occurs on August 29.
2014 OVC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
1. Eastern Kentucky (10 first-place votes) - 120 points
2. Belmont (2) - 111
3. Southeast Missouri - 94
4. Eastern Illinois - 92
5. Morehead State - 84
6. SIUE - 75
7. UT Martin - 50
8. Murray State - 42
9. Austin Peay - 41
10. Tennessee Tech - 40
11. Jacksonville State - 32
12. Tennessee State - 11
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
2014 OVC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
1. Eastern Kentucky (11 first-place votes) - 121 points
2. Belmont (1) - 110
3. Eastern Illinois - 99
4. Southeast Missouri - 94
5. Murray State - 80
6. SIUE - 61
7. Austin Peay - 60
8. Morehead State - 53
9. Jacksonville State - 50
10. Tennessee Tech - 31
11. UT Martin - 21
12. Tennessee State - 12
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)