CSUSM Men's Cross Country Debuts at No. 9 in Preseason Poll

Cougars drop six spots from last year's third place finish but still aim to be in national championship mix.
8/28/2013 2:28:00 PM


The Cougars will have to knock off No. 4 British Columbia to earn their sixth straight A.I.I. Championship in 2013.
NAIA Coaches' Preseason Poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The first cross country rankings of the 2013 have been released, and the Cal State San Marcos men's cross country team ranked No. 9 on the Preseason NAIA Coaches' Poll released Wednesday. The Cougars fell six positions from where it ended the 2012 season after its third place finish at the NAIA National Championships.

The Cougars tallied 394 total points in the poll that was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences in the NAIA.
Defending national champion St. Francis received the top spot with 560 points and 19 of 20 first place votes, while Southern Oregon (542) and Aquinas (505) entered the poll at No. 2 and No. 3.

Fellow A.I.I. Conference member British Columbia came in fourth in the poll with 501 points. CSUSM has won the A.I.I. Championship in all five years of its existence, including a solid defeat of the Thunderbirds 24 to 36 last season.

CSUSM is the top ranked California team in the poll, tied with The Master's College in ninth. Vanguard is the only other local Californian opponent to receive a ranking, coming in at No. 21.

Cal State San Marcos returns four runners from last year's squad that finished third at the NAIA National Championships, including three-time returning All-American Western Nelson. For a full preview and overview of the CSUSM men's cross country team, please see the 2013 season preview.