NEW ORLEANS – The UT Arlington men's cross country team picked up a 1st-place vote and has been tabbed to finish in 3rd place in the Sun Belt Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll, while the women were picked for a top-half showing as well in 5th place.
The men return eight runners from last year's team, which finished 4th in the Sun Belt Championship, just eight points out of 2nd. Four of UTA's five point scorers at the conference meet last fall are back this year for the Mavericks, who welcome four freshmen and sophomore transfer
Jose Alfonzo from Texas Wesleyan to help bolster the roster.
The women are poised to make a splash this year as the veteran group returns seven runners from last year, and welcome SMU transfer
Charlotte-Tara Murphy. Four of the Mavs' five point scorers from last year's Sun Belt Championship return, looking to improve off a 5th-place finish.
"The preseason polls always represent an exciting time of the year because it means the season is upon us, but this year the preseason favorite is COVID-19 and the team that's best able to navigate the daily-changing cross country schedule," said 33-time Conference Coach of the Year
John Sauerhage. "As of now, we won't have a race until October, which actually is a good thing because we need time to train and learn how to race again after being away from competitive action for more than half a year. It will certainly be a season full of challenges and adjustments, and we just have to be ready for anything."
On the men's side last season, now-sophomore
Marquentin Barnes missed out on all-conference honors by just one position. On the women's side, fellow rising sophomore
Bailey Villalon was also just one spot out of earning all-league honors, and she was the second-highest finishing freshman at the meet.
UTA has had an incredible run of success in the conference meet since joining the league in 2013. Remarkably, only twice in seven years has UTA failed to return to campus with a trophy. The men have won Sun Belt crowns four times (2013, 2015, 2016, 2018), while the women claimed the 2014 title.
Due to the uncertainty and constantly-changing landscape of COVID-19, currently UTA only has one regular-season race scheduled. That is slated to take place at the Abilene Christian Invitational on Oct. 17. Information regarding potential additional races or adjustments will be posted at a later date.
The Sun Belt Championship, now hosted by South Alabama, is scheduled for Oct. 31 in Mobile, Ala.
MEN'S PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
(First-Place Votes In Parentheses)
1) Appalachian State (8) – 97 pts
2) Arkansas State (1) – 90 pts
3) UT Arlington (1) – 80 pts
4) Texas State – 61 pts
South Alabama – 61 pts
6) Coastal Carolina – 48 pts
7) Little Rock – 42 pts
8) Troy – 34 pts
9) Louisiana – 21 pts
10) ULM – 16 pts
WOMEN'S PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1) Arkansas State (9) – 141 pts
2) Appalachian State (2) – 125 pts
3) South Alabama (1) – 123 pts
4) Texas State – 102 pts
5) UT Arlington – 98 pts
6) Georgia State – 72 pts
7) Coastal Carolina – 68 pts
Troy – 68 pts
9) Little Rock – 48 pts
10) Georgia Southern – 37 pts
11) Louisiana – 33 pts
12) ULM – 17 pts
FOLLOW ALONG
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