Men's Cross Country Picked to Finish Second; Women Fourth in SEC Coaches Preseason Poll
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 | Cross Country
The Florida men's and women's cross country teams both ranked among the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) top teams in the 2014 SEC Cross Country Preseason Coaches Polls, which was released on Wednesday. The men were selected to finish second, while the women were picked to finish fourth at the 2014 SEC Cross Country Championships.
Points for the men's poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis, while the women's poll was awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13 basis. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
Last season at the SEC Championships, the Gators finished second for the second time in three years. On the women's side, Florida took fourth, a season after taking first.
Under the guidance of third-year assistant track and cross country coach Paul Spangler, the Gator men and women have never finished lower than fifth at the SEC Championships.
The Arkansas men were selected to repeat as the SEC Cross Country Champions after capturing their 21st SEC Cross Country Championship in the last 23 years in 2013 and finishing 12th at the NCAA Championships. After Florida, Ole Miss picked up three first-place votes and was chosen to finish third.
The Arkansas women were a unanimous choice to repeat as the SEC Cross Country Champions after winning their first SEC Cross Country Championship since 2008 a year ago. The Razorbacks finished 15th at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Vanderbilt was predicted to finish second, while Texas A&M was chosen to place third.
The 2014 SEC Cross Country Championships are slated to take place Friday, October 31 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
| 2014 SEC Men's Predicted Order of Finish | |
| 1. Arkansas (10) | 16 |
| 2. Florida | 27 |
| 3. Ole Miss (3) | 42 |
| 4. Missouri | 51 |
| 5. Auburn | 59 |
| 6. Texas A&M | 63 |
| 7. Georgia | 77 |
| 8. Kentucky | 79 |
| 9. Alabama | 101 |
| 10. Mississippi State | 107 |
| 11. Tennessee | 115 |
| 12. LSU | 136 |
| 13. Vanderbilt | 141 |
| 2014 SEC Women's Predicted Order of Finish | |
| 1. Arkansas (13) | 13 |
| 2. Vanderbilt (1) | 34 |
| 3. Texas A&M | 39 |
| 4. Florida | 58 |
| 5. Alabama | 65 |
| 6. Mississippi State | 72 |
| 7. Missouri | 79 |
| 8. Kentucky | 99 |
| 9. Georgia | 104 |
| 10. Tennessee | 116 |
| 11. Ole Miss | 135 |
| 12. Auburn | 142 |
| 13. South Carolina | 152 |
| 14. LSU | 166 |
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