PORTLAND, Ore. – A total of eight Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s and women’s cross country programs are listed in their respective NAIA preseason Top 25 polls announced Wednesday. The figure is the highest combined total for any conference in the country.
Both genders had two CCC programs listed in the top 10 – No. 2 Southern Oregon and No. 9 Eastern Oregon on the men’s side, and No. 6 College of Idaho and No. 9 Concordia on the women’s side.
Other nationally-ranked CCC men’s programs are No. 11 College of Idaho and No. 17 Concordia. Other nationally-ranked CCC women’s programs are No. 15 Eastern Oregon and No. 25 Southern Oregon. Northwest Christian received votes, but did not crack the Top 25.
In the CCC preseason polls, voted on by the conference head coaches, Southern Oregon’s men’s program and College of Idaho’s women’s program have been tabbed the pre-season favorites for the second consecutive year. Both SOU and C of I are aiming for their third consecutive conference titles.
In the CCC men’s preseason poll, SOU received nine first place votes and 98 total points to edge College of Idaho. The Raiders, coached by Brent Ericksen, return the top 10 runners from last year’s squad, which entered the national championships ranked No. 1 in the country. Top returnees include senior David Laney, last year’s conference individual champion who placed seventh at nationals; senior Dennis McCaffrey, who placed 31st at the NAIA meet; senior Andrew Milne, who finished 50th in the national meet; and junior Ryan Sorenson, who placed 59th at nationals.
College of Idaho totaled 86 points in the poll. Head coach Pat McCurry, whose squad placed 10th at the NAIA Championships last fall, returns 12 letterwinners, including two-time All-CCC honoree Paul Sartin, All-American Greg Montgomery, and 2008 All-CCC honoree Kiprotich Langat.
Eastern Oregon, which placed 12th nationally last year, is led by DJ Flores, who finished 16th at last year’s national championships.
In the women’s preseason poll, College of Idaho received seven first-place votes to edge Concordia and Eastern Oregon in the balloting. The Yotes return a veteran squad headed by two-time CCC Runner of the Year Stephanie Helm, who helped lead C of I to a seventh-place NAIA finish last year. A two-time NAIA All-American, Helm will be supported by All-CCC honorees Maggie Miller, Kaitlyn Gerard, Kayloni Jones and Kristine Smith.
Concordia earned two first-place votes in finishing second to C of I in the preseason poll. Including 2009 CCC individual champ and All-American Alice Taylor, the Cavs return their top five runners from last year’s squad, which placed 12th nationally. The Cavs have also added former track All-Americans Linsie Michels and Andria Scheese to their roster.
Eastern Oregon picked up one first-place vote in placing third in the conference preseason poll. The Mountaineers are expected to be led by sophomore Karlee Coffey, a 12th-place finisher at last year’s national championships.
The CCC Championships are scheduled for Nov. 6 in Klamath Falls. The NAIA Cross Country National Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 20 at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash. The national meet is co-hosted by the CCC and Concordia University.
CCC Preseason Polls
| Men’s Cross Country |
Points |
| 1. Southern Oregon (9) |
98 |
| 2. College of Idaho |
86 |
| 3. Eastern Oregon (1) |
84 |
| 4. Concordia |
72 |
| 5. Warner Pacific |
51 |
| 6. Corban |
43 |
| 7. Oregon Tech |
42 |
| 8. Northwest Christian |
34 |
| 9. Evergreen |
20 |
| 9. Northwest |
20 |
Women’s Cross Country |
Points |
| 1. College of Idaho (7) |
96 |
| 2. Concordia (2) |
89 |
| 3. Eastern Oregon (1) |
81 |
| 4. Southern Oregon |
74 |
| 5. Northwest Christian |
59 |
| 6. Northwest |
46 |
| 7. Corban |
36 |
| 8. Oregon Tech |
33 |
| 9. Evergreen |
18 |
| 9. Warner Pacific |
18 |
| First place votes in parentheses |