DALLAS – 2018 Conference USA Women’s Cross Country Champion UTEP was named the preseason favorite in this year’s C-USA Preseason Poll. Middle Tennessee was selected to finish first on the men’s side. Both polls are voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
Last season, the Miners landed their first conference title in program history, taking four of the top seven spots in the women’s 5K. Five runners from the champion squad – 2018 individual champion Linda Cheruiyot, Carolyne Chepkosgei, Winny Koech, Karoline Daland and Andrea Lucero – return this season led by reigning Coach of the Year Paul Ereng.
 
Rice garnered three first-place votes and the runner-up spot. The 2019 Owls’ team boasts four All-Conference returners in Lourdes Vivas de Lorenzi, Khayla Patel, Ryann Helmers and Ashley Messineo.
 
Right behind in third place with four first-place votes is Middle Tennessee. The Lady Raiders are paced by 2018 Freshman of the Meet and bronze medalist Pamela Kosgei, as well as four other All-Conference finishers.
 
Middle Tennessee’s men’s squad posted a sixth-place finish at the 2018 conference championship. The Blue Raiders, who won the title in 2017, look to reclaim the top spot in the league this season. Brian Rono, Middle Tennessee’s top runner at last year’s meet, is back to improve upon his ninth-place spot.
 
2018 runner-up Charlotte clinches the No. 2 spot and two first-place votes in this year’s poll. Three All-Conference honorees from last season – Paul Arredondo, Zach Marchinko and Alex Cornwell - pace the 49ers.
 
Last year’s conference champion North Texas rounds out the top three with two first-place votes. With 2018 Coach of the Year Kevin Williams at the helm, the Mean Green are led by three All-Conference returners including podium finisher Florian Lussy.
 
The 2019 season begins Aug. 30, culminating in the C-USA Cross Country Championships hosted by WKU in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Nov. 2.
 
2019 C-USA Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
(First-Place Votes)
1. UTEP (5)
2. Rice (3)
3. Middle Tennessee (4)
4. Southern Miss
5. Charlotte (1)
6. UAB
7. North Texas
8. FIU
9. UTSA
10. Florida Atlantic
11. Marshall
12. WKU
13. Louisiana Tech
 
2019 C-USA Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
(First-Place Votes)
1. Middle Tennessee (7)
2. Charlotte (2)
3. North Texas (2)
4. Rice
5. UTEP
6. UTSA
7. Marshall
8. Louisiana Tech
9. WKU
10. Florida Atlantic
11. FIU