Aggie Cross Country Teams Picked High In Preseason Polls

Aggie Cross Country Teams Picked High In Preseason Polls

Men expected to finish second, women third according to league coaches

Utah State's men's cross country team, which won the Big West Conference Championship a year ago, has been picked to finish second this year, while the Aggie women were voted third, it was announced by the league office Sept. 24.

The league's cross country poll is voted on by the league coaches. The Aggie men received one first place vote and had 71 total points. Cal Poly received the other eight first-place votes and had 79 points in the poll. UC Santa Barbara was third at 66 points.

Gregg Gensel's men's team won three straight league titles from 1992-94 and then posted runner-up finishes in six of the next seven years before regaining the title last fall.

In two meets this year, the Aggies have finished second at Idaho State and fourth at the BYU Autumn Classic. Mike Nielson, the Big West runner-up a year ago, set a course record while winning the ISU meet, but did not run at BYU due to an injury.

On the women's side, Idaho, with eight first-place votes, was picked as the league favorite with 98 points and UC Santa Barbara earned two first place votes and 92 points. Utah State and UC Irvine were tied for third with 70 points apiece with Cal Poly fifth at 60 points.

Freshman Ashley Johnson has led the women in both meets placing second at ISU and eighth at BYU.

Both the men's and women's teams will resume competition this week when they travel to the University of Minnesota's Griak Invitational Sept. 27.

Big West Men's Coaches Poll

1. Cal Poly 79 (8 first place votes)
2. UTAH STATE 71 (1)
3. UC Santa Barbara 66
4. Cal State Fullerton 44
5. Idaho 42
6. Uc Irvine 37
7. Long Beach State 31
8. Cal State Northridge 20
9. UC Riverside 15

Big West Women's Coaches Poll

1. Idaho 98 (8 first place votes)
2. UC Santa Barbara 92
3. UTAH STATE 70
4. UC Irvine 70
5. Cal Poly 60
6. Cal State Northridge 56
7. Cal State Fullerton 35
8. Long Beach State 35
9. UC Riverside 23
10. Pacific 11

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