Anchored by All-Missouri Valley Conference runner and 2001 NCAA Indoor Mile Champion Christian Goy, the Illinois State mens cross country team is a unanimous pick to finish first in the Valley preseason coaches poll released Thursday. The Illinois State womens team is projected to finish second this season.
The mens team took all ten first-place votes for a total of 100 points, while Indiana State is listed in second with 86 points.
On the womens side, SMS claimed eight of the 10 first-place votes for 98 points, while the Birds grabbed the final two first-place votes and finished with 82 points.
It is great to know that the other Valley coaches feel that we have the best and second best teams in the conference, said assistant track and field coach Chris Bailey, who will primarily handle cross country duties this season. Our mens team is stacked, and our women bring a lot of strong runners back from last years team as well.
I believe the only team that can beat us in the Valley is our own, continued Bailey. Jen Klostermann had a breakout season last year and Diana Ainsley looks strong too. Plus, we have some newcomers on both sides that should do some big things for us.
Illinois State will host two meets this season with the ISU Cross Country Challenge on September 14 and the NCAA Midwest Regional on November 16 at the ISU Trail on the University Farm.
The two teams begin their seasons on September 7 at the Early Bird Cross Country Invitational in Macomb, Ill.
2002 Mens
PRESEASON
Coaches Poll
(by vote of Valley cross country coaches)
1. Illinois State (10) 100
2. Indiana State 86
3. Northern Iowa 72
Southwest Missouri State 72
5. Wichita State 59
6. Southern Illinois 58
7. Drake 42
8. Bradley 26
9. Creighton 23
10. Evansville 15
2002 Womens
PRESEASON
Coaches Poll
(by vote of Valley cross country coaches)
1. Southwest Missouri State (8) 98
2. Illinois State (2) 82
3. Northern Iowa 70
4. Indiana State 68
4. Bradley 62
6. Southern Illinois 43
7. Drake 42
Wichita State 42
9. Creighton 23
10. Evansville 21
