SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference released its preseason cross-country polls Wednesday afternoon, and Samford's women's team was picked second, while the men's team was tabbed fourth.
 
On the women's side, Furman was picked to win the league with 81 points and nine of the 10 first-place votes in the poll, voted on by the league's head coaches. Samford came in second with 69 points and the remaining first-place nod. Samford was followed by ETSU (65), Chattanooga (52), Western Carolina (44), Mercer (39), Wofford (37), UNC Greensboro (34), VMI (16) and The Citadel (13).
 
In the men's poll, Furman was again the favorite with 80 points and eight first-place votes. ETSU was picked second with 74 points and the remaining two first-place votes. ETSU was followed by Mercer (60), Samford (54), UNC Greensboro (52), Chattanooga (36), Western Carolina (34), The Citadel (24), VMI (19) and Wofford (17).
 
Last season, the Samford women's team finished second at the SoCon Championships, while the men's team came in fifth.
 
Samford will open the 2023 cross country season on Friday, Sept. 1, when the Bulldogs compete at the Foothills Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville State in Oxford, Ala. The 2023 SoCon Championships are scheduled for Oct. 27 in Greensboro, N.C.
 
2023 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1. Furman (9), 81 
2. Samford (1), 69 
3. ETSU, 65 
4. Chattanooga, 52 
5. Western Carolina, 44 
6. Mercer, 39 
7. Wofford, 37 
8. UNCG, 34 
9. VMI, 16 
10. The Citadel, 13 
 
2023 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1. Furman (8), 80 
2. ETSU (2), 74 
3. Mercer, 60 
4. Samford, 54 
5. UNCG, 52 
6. Chattanooga, 36 
7. Western Carolina, 34 
8. The Citadel, 24 
9. VMI, 19 
10. Wofford, 17 
 
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