Eagles picked ninth in preseason poll
August 27, 2015

Eagles picked ninth in preseason poll

Where the Carson-Newman men’s cross country team finished last season is where the 2015 squad will begin as the Eagles were picked ninth in the South Atlantic Conference polls Thursday morning.

Rock Hill, S.C.—Where the Carson-Newman men's cross country team finished last season is where the 2015 squad will begin as the Eagles were picked ninth in the South Atlantic Conference polls Thursday morning.

"If we end up finishing ninth, I think the wheels would have fallen off," coach Tony Parrilla said in reaction to the polls. "We are really going to show some great improvement and we have brought in a great group of guys."

The Eagles only return five runners from their roster a year ago, which includes Lachlan Dickie (Knoxville, Tenn.). Dickie recorded a team best 18th finish in the SAC Championship Meet last October.

Carson-Newman will welcome six newcomers on to this year's team.
 
"Those guys are really pushing everyone to get better," Parrilla said. "Everybody that has come back is really stepping it up."
 
Mars Hill was again picked to win its 19th consecutive SAC championship while picking up eight first place votes and 121 overall points.
 
Queens, N.C. and Wingate were picked second and third respectively behind Mars Hill. The Royals gathered three first-place votes while the Bulldogs received one vote. 
 
Lenoir-Rhyne, Lincoln Memorial, and Anderson were picked to finish in the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions. Coker and Catawba were next in line as they garnered seventh and eighth place finishes.
 
Carson-Newman and in-state rival Tusculum were picked as a tie in the ninth place position with 42 points.
 
Brevard and Newberry rounded out the SAC preseason poll at 11th and 12th places respectively.
 
Carson-Newman will conclude preseason training by hosting the annual Orange/Blue meet Saturday, August 29th, before the program's regular season begins on September 5th, at the Victor Ashe Fall Classic in Knoxville, Tenn.
2015 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

School

Total

1. Mars Hill (8)

121

2. Queens (3)

115

3. Wingate

102

4. Lenoir-Rhyne

90

5. Lincoln Memorial

81

6. Anderson

71

7. Coker

55

8. Catawba

43

9. Tusculum

Carson-Newman

42

42

11. Brevard

25

12. Newberry

16
 
-CN-