Southern Oregon Earns Both Top Spots in Preseason Poll
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Southern Oregon University sits in the top spot of both the Cascade Collegiate Conference Women's and Men's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Polls, announced Monday.
The Raider women, who took second last year at the conference meet and fourth at the NAIA National Championship, picked up 91 total points and four first-place votes, although it was a close race.
Defending NAIA and CCC Champion Oregon Tech sits in second place with three first-place votes and 86 total points, just edging out College of Idaho in third, also with three first-place votes and 85 total points. Last year, the Yotes took third at the conference meet and went on to place 11th at nationals.
Another familiar face at the NAIA meet was Northwest Christian University, which took 17th as a team. The Beacons enter the preseason ranked fourth in the conference, while Eastern Oregon University rounds out the top-five with 63 points.
Corban University (53 points), Northwest University (40 points), Warner Pacific University (34 points), Multnomah University (17 points) and Walla Walla University (15 points) close out spots six through 10 on the women's side.
For the men, the race for the conference title is sure to be exciting like last year. While the Raiders had dominated the field for 10-straight years, C of I upset SOU for the CCC championship in 2018, with both teams finishing in the top-10 at the NAIA Championship.
While SOU is predicted to regain its crown, picking up three first-place votes and 93 total points, the Yotes are right in the mix in second place with six first-place votes and 90 points.
Eastern Oregon, which took 19th at nationals, enters the season in the No. 3 spot with 79 points, while Oregon Tech (25th at NAIA Championship) comes in fourth with 66 points. Just two points below the Hustlin' Owls is NCU, which also advanced to the national championship and took 29th overall. The Beacons also picked up one first-place vote to finish with 64 total points entering the year.
NU (49 points), Corban (47 points), Warner Pacific (28 points), Multnomah (18 points) and WWU (16 points) round out the last five spots of the poll.
2019 CCC Women's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Southern Oregon University (4) 91
2. Oregon Tech (3) 86
3. College of Idaho (3) 85
4. Northwest Christian University 66
5. Eastern Oregon University 63
6. Corban University 53
7. Northwest University 40
8. Warner Pacific University 34
9. Multnomah University 17
10. Walla Walla University 15
2019 CCC Men's Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Southern Oregon University (3) 93
2. College of Idaho (6) 90
3. Eastern Oregon University 79
4. Oregon Tech 66
5. Northwest Christian University (1) 64
6. Northwest University 49
7. Corban University 47
8. Warner Pacific University 28
9. Multnomah University 18
10. Walla Walla University 16
The NAIA cross country preseason poll will be released August 29.