|
MSU Cross Country Teams Picked To Finish 11th
The Lady Bulldogs were voted to finish above Auburn, South Carolina and LSU, respectively, after a ninth-place finish at last year's SEC Championships. With returning veterans Chloe Phillips and Renee Masterson, coupled with anticipated newcomers Fabienne Amrhein and Cornelia Greiche, the Lady Bulldogs will have the leadership needed to succeed.
The men, followed by LSU and Vanderbilt, also placed ninth at the 2011 SEC Championships. With the aid of fresh faces, including twins Andrew and Patrick Monaghan, this year's team will look to battle against its predicted finish.
"Preseason polls are fine to look at, but no one really knows what anybody else has yet," Mississippi State coach Houston Franks said. "We have higher expectations than where we're predicted, so we'll find out in October. I'm pretty excited about what we have on both sides."
The Arkansas Razorbacks, along with the Vanderbilt women, are the conference favorites this year.
The Maroon and White cross country squads begin action on Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Berry/University of the South Invite in Rome, Ga. The teams will return to Starkville to host the Mississippi State Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 15.
2012 SEC Cross Country Coaches' Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
WOMEN
1. Vanderbilt (8) 21
2. Arkansas (3) 27
3. Florida (3) 33
4. Texas A&M 54
5. Georgia 68
6. Missouri 71
7. Ole Miss 93
8. Alabama 97
9. Tennessee 107
10. Kentucky 123
11. Mississippi State 126
12. Auburn 132
13. South Carolina 158
14. LSU 164
MEN
1. Arkansas (9) 15
2. Florida (1) 28
3. Texas A&M (3) 31
4. Georgia 44
5. Kentucky 65
6. Missouri 70
7. Alabama 84
8. Tennessee 87
9. Ole Miss 100
10. Auburn 103
11. Mississippi State 112
12. LSU 131
13. Vanderbilt 144
