CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Southern Conference cross country coaches picked the Chattanooga women to finish fourth and the men sixth in the Preseason Poll, the league announced today.
 
The women received 52 points behind Furman with 81 points and nine first place votes for first, Samford with 69 points and one first place vote and ETSU with 65 points.
 
Lesley Green Boyd and Emma Russum along with 2022 All-Freshman Leah Boyd and Maddie Wheatcroft return to the squad that placed fourth last season.
 
The Mocs men's team was picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll. Furman received eight first place votes and 80 points followed by ETSU with 74 points and the remaining two first place votes. Mercer (60) is picked to finish fourth followed by Samford (54) and UNCG with 52 points.
 
The men return Aaron Isbell, Jasper Wilson, Eamonn O'Bryant, Eric Mitchell and Kaigen Mulkey.
 
Chattanooga opens the 2023 season at the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational at Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course in Knoxville. The women's three-mile race kicks off at 8:00 a.m. followed by the men's four-mile race at 8:30 a.m.
 
2023 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1. Furman (8) 80 
2. ETSU (2) 74 
3. Mercer 60 
4. Samford 54 
5. UNCG 52 
6. Chattanooga 36 
7. Western Carolina 34 
8. The Citadel 24 
9. VMI 19 
10. Wofford, 17 
 
2023 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1. Furman (9) 81 
2. Samford (1) 69 
3. ETSU 65 
4. Chattanooga 52 
5. Western Carolina 44 
6. Mercer, 39 
7. Wofford 37 
8. UNCG, 34 
9. VMI, 16 
10. The Citadel 13