C-N Men's XC Ranked 7th in SAC Preseason Coaches Poll
Carson-Newman Men's Cross Country team finds themselves in the middle of the pack in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
VIDEO: Brent Borden Preseason Poll Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman was slated 7th overall in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll the league announced Wednesday morning.
The men's cross country team begins the season ranked 7th overall in the SAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
"We do lose a little bit of talent off the men's side from last year," said head coach Brent Borden. "I do think that we can replenish that through the freshmen class we brought in. As well as keeping some guys that we've had on the roster."
The Eagles also had three men's runners named to the SAC Runners to Watch List for the season with Andrew Thompson (senior), Bryson Burkett (senior), and Jase McCloskey (freshmen) earning the honor.
"We expect Bryson Burkett to take a big jump forward coming off the track season he had in the spring," said Borden. "He is really on another level from what he's been throughout the rest of his career. We want to keep Andrew Thompson healthy. He has a really high ceiling this year and him and Bryson can be the senior leaders on this team. We expect Jase McCloskey
To make an immediate impact despite being more track oriented, this cross country season will help him in so many ways mentally and physically."
Carson-Newman Cross Country kicks off the 2025 season on Friday, Sep. 5th at the Converse Kick off at Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg, S.C. starting at 6:30 p.m.
2025 Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank – School (First Place Votes) – Points
1. Wingate (11) – 11
2. Anderson (1) – 97
3. Catawba – 91
4. Lincoln Memorial – 80
5. Lenoir-Rhyne – 67
6. Emory & Henry – 62
T-7. Carson-Newman – 46
T-7. Mars Hill – 46
9. UVA Wise – 25
10. Newberry – 19
11. Tusculum – 17
12. Coker – 12
Stay connected with Carson-Newman Cross Country by following @CN_Eagles on X and Instagram, or by liking Carson-Newman Athletics on Facebook. For more information and updates, visit cneagles.com.
