Friday, August 22, 2003

The Valparaiso University men's cross country team has been selected to finish in fourth place in the Mid-Continent Conference based upon the 2003 preseason poll as voted upon by the league's head coaches.

Head coach Mike Straubel's squad, which finished sixth at the conference championships in 2002, received one first place vote and 40 total points in the balloting. Southern Utah is the preseason favorite, followed by defending conference champion Oakland. IUPUI is tabbed third, ahead of Valpo, followed by Western Illinois and UMKC. Chicago State and Oral Roberts tied for seventh in the poll, while Centenary, the newest member of the Mid-Con, was picked ninth.

Valpo's 2003 season will open on September 5 when the Brown and Gold hosts the Crusader Invitational at Sunset Hills Farm. The men's race is slated to begin at 5:45 p.m.

2003 Mid-Continent Conference Preseason Poll-Men's Cross Country
1. Southern Utah (6) - 58
2. Oakland (2) - 56
3. IUPUI - 44
4. Valparaiso (1) - 40
5. Western Illinois - 39
6. UMKC - 30
t-7. Chicago State - 21
t-7. Oral Roberts - 21
9. Centenary - 16
(First place votes in parentheses)