OVC Releases Preseason Cross Country Predictions
8/19/2009 10:00:33 AM
MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State men’s cross country team was selected to finish fourth, while the Eagle women were tabbed seventh in the preseason poll voted on by the league’s head coaches.
The Eagle men return two of the OVC’s top 10 runners from the 2008 championship. Senior Ron Duncan is the fifth best returning harrier in the league as he was named First-Team All-OVC with a seventh place showing at the 2008 OVC meet. Red-shirt senior Matt Dotson finished 14th at last year’s championship and is the 10th best returning runner heading into the 2009 season.
Eastern Kentucky, which has won 17 men’s cross country titles, was once again picked first. Eastern Ilinosi and Southeast Missouri were second and third followed by MSU in fourth. Rounding out the votes were Jacksonville State, Austin Peay, Murray State, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin and Tennessee State.
The Eagle women were picked in a tie for seventh with Jacksonville State. MSU’s top returnee is senior Alexis King, who finished 21st at the 2008 OVC championship. Murray State, which has improved its championship meet finish each of the last four years, narrowly edged Eastern Kentucky for the nod to win the title. Southeast Missouri, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay were picked three through six, while UT Martin and Tennessee State concluded the poll.