Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Cross Country teams picked second in MVC coaches poll
09/01/2005 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Sept. 1, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - After last season's performances, Southern Illinois University Cross Country coach Matt Sparks believes his teams are establishing themselves as a strong contender in the Missouri Valley Conference.
His beliefs may hold true as both the men's and women's cross country teams were picked to finish second in the league's preseason coaches poll.
The rankings come after the Salukis performed well in the 2004 State Farm MVC Championship. The men tied with Indiana State for first in the conference while the women's team finished runner-up to Missouri State for the second consecutive year.
Although, the SIU women and Wichita State each tallied 93 points in the balloting, the Shockers claimed six first-place votes to edge the Dawgs.
Missouri State comes in at third with 82 points and one first-place vote.
Indiana State (69) and Illinois State (56) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, while Northern Iowa (53), Bradley (36), Drake (30), Creighton (27) and Evansville (11) follow.
On the men's side, INS tallied 99 votes and nine of the 10 available first-place votes. The Salukis followed in second with 82 points.
MSU garnered 77 points and one first place vote to come in third. DU secured fourth with 73 points.
WSU (58), UE (50), BU (41), ILS (33), UNI (23) and CU (14) round out the men's poll.
SIU opens its 2005 cross country season Sept. 3 at the Evansville Early Bird.
