By Rob Schabert, TTU Assistant A.D. for Sports Information & Broadcasting
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men are picked to finish fourth in the upcoming Ohio Valley Conference cross country season while the Golden Eagle women are tabbed for seventh place, in a poll among the league's head cross country coaches.
In the annual preseason vote, Eastern Kentucky men's and women's teams were picked as the favorites for the 2015 season. Last season the EKU men's team claimed its 23rd OVC championship and ninth in a row while the EKU women's program took home its 28th all-time title at the event held in Oxford, Alabama.
On the men's side Eastern Kentucky (121 points, 11 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (97), Belmont (91), Tennessee Tech (85, 1 first-place vote), SIUE (83), Morehead State (81), Southeast Missouri (72), Murray State (46), Austin Peay (43), UT Martin (35), Jacksonville State (26) and Tennessee State (12).
On the women's side Eastern Kentucky (119 points, 10 first-place votes) was followed by Eastern Illinois (110, 1 first-place vote), Belmont (103, 1 first-place vote), Murray State (87), Southeast Missouri (75), Morehead State (62), SIUE and Tennessee Tech (57 apiece), Austin Peay (52), Jacksonville State and UT Martin (29 apiece) and Tennessee State (12).
The 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships will be held October 31 at the Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray, Kentucky. It marks the first time the championship has been there since 2003. The first regular season meets of the 2015 season occur on September 4-5. The Golden Eagles open that weekend at Indiana University.
2015 OVC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
1. Eastern Kentucky (11 first-place votes) - 121 points
2. Eastern Illinois - 97
3. Belmont - 91
4. Tennessee Tech (1) - 85
5. SIUE - 83
6. Morehead State - 81
7. Southeast Missouri - 72
8. Murray State - 46
9. Austin Peay - 43
10. UT Martin - 35
11. Jacksonville State - 26
12. Tennessee State - 12
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)
2015 OVC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the OVC head cross country coaches)
1. Eastern Kentucky (11 first-place votes) - 121 points
2. Eastern Illinois - 108
3. Belmont (1) - 103
4. Murray State - 87
5. Southeast Missouri - 75
6. Morehead State - 62
7. SIUE - 57
Tennessee Tech - 57
9. Austin Peay - 52
10. Jacksonville State - 29
UT Martin - 29
12. Tennessee State - 12
(Teams awarded 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for second, etc.)