NEW ORLEANS, LA. – The Coastal Carolina cross country teams have been selected to finish in seventh (women's) and eighth (men's), respectively, in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll announced by the league's office on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
 
On the women's side, the Chanticleers tallied 69 points for the seventh spot while the top three looked almost identical to the men's poll. Arkansas State and App State were the top two vote-getters tallying 139 and 136 points, respectively, with the Jaguars finishing third with 115 points.
 
The Trojans and Mavericks closed out the top five with eight points separating the two squads for fourth and fifth place. Texas State tallied 74 votes for the sixth spot while Little Rock (56), Georgia Southern (42), ULM (41), Georgia State (39), and Louisiana (37) rounded out the poll.
 
The CCU men's cross country team garnered 29 points to finish in the eighth spot just ahead of Troy and ULM, who tallied 25 and 16 points, respectively. Arkansas State and App State tied for the top spot with 91 points while the Red Wolves collected four first-place votes to three for the Mountaineers.
 
South Alabama followed with 88 points, including three first-place votes, to place third overall. UTA and Texas State finished out the top five as the Mavericks collected 68 points for fourth place while the Bobcats finished with 58 points for the fifth spot. Little Rock (43 votes) and Louisiana (41) were selected in the sixth and seventh spots.
 
The Coastal Carolina cross country teams will begin competition this Friday, Sept. 3, at the Covered Bridge Open in Boone, N.C. in a meet hosted by Sun Belt foe Appalachian State.
 
For complete coverage of CCU track & field, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalTFXC (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.