2007 Summit League Preseason Poll

WOMEN PICKED SECOND, MEN FIRST IN PRESEASON POLL

CEDAR CITY, Utah – August 22 – Southern Utah University has been picked first and second in the men and women’s preseason cross country poll as released by the conference offices today (Aug. 22).  The men were a unanimous first-place selection with nine first-place votes with the women’s team picking up a single first-place vote.

The Thunderbird men collected 81 points with new conference member North Dakota State in second place with 66 points and a first-place vote.  Oakland (61), South Dakota State (55) and Oral Roberts rounded out the top five.

On the women’s side, Oral Roberts was a near unanimous selection with eight first-place votes and 80 points.  The Golden Eagles were followed by SUU with 67 points and a first-place vote and North Dakota State with 59 points and the final first-place vote.  Oakland (52) and South Dakota State (43) were named fourth and fifth, respectively to fill out the top five.

“It was a nice gesture of the conference to have our teams ranked number one and number two,” head coach Eric Houle said of the poll.  “We have young teams for both the men and women and have a great opportunity to be in the mix at the end of the year.”

Southern Utah’s men have won the conference championship eight times in the last ten years, but with the addition of North Dakota State, South Dakota State and IPFW, that streak will be tested.  Each team had a successful showing at the Independent National Championships last year and Coach Houle says that the competition will be tight.

SUU cross country will begin the season on September 1, when the team travels to Pocatello, Idaho for the Idaho State Invitational.