KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The SBU's men's cross country team has been ranked #2, and the women's team has been ranked #3 in 2008 MIAA Cross Country Preseason Coaches Polls.

Head coach Corey McElhaney wasn't surprised at his school's best-ever preseason showing, which included a first place vote for his men's team.

"It's where we finished last year, and where I expected to be this year. That's the best we've ever been ranked. We're looking forward to getting our athletes here and get the season going."

SBU has all three of its top 10 men's finishers from last season coming back -- senior Michael Pierce (3rd) along with juniors Shawn Etzenhouser (6th) and Jeremy Glassmaker (9th).

The SBU women have two top-20 runners from the '07 MIAA race coming back in juniors Courtney Ayers (11th) and Mallory Roth (19th).

2008 MIAA Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll

    School                         Pts
 1. Missouri Southern (7).......... 49
  2. Southwest Baptist (1).......... 40
  3. Pittsburg State................ 38
  4. Central Missouri............... 27
     Emporia State.................. 27
  6. Fort Hays State................ 22
  7. Truman......................... 13
  8. Northwest Missouri State.......  8

Points awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Coaches could not vote for their own school.

2008 MIAA Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll

    School                         Pts
 1. Missouri Southern (7).......... 63
  2. Pittsburg State (2)............ 57
  3. Southwest Baptist.............. 50
  4. Central Missouri............... 40
  5. Fort Hays State................ 34
  6. Truman......................... 27
  7. Nebraska-Omaha................. 20
  8. Northwest Missouri State....... 19
  9. Emporia State.................. 14

Points awarded on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Coaches could not vote for their own school.