SUU XC - Summit League Polls Foresee Happy Prospects for SUU Cross Country Teams Add Comment    Sep 19, 2010

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Aug. 27 - The Southern Utah women's cross country team has been chosen to repeat as Summit League champions in the annual pre-season coaches polls. The men's team was tabbed for second place, closely following reigning champion South Dakota State.

Head coach Eric Houle, reigning women's Coach of the Year, returns with the Lady Thunderbirds hoping to win a second consecutive Championship in the 2010 season. Three all-League athletes are returning this year, including 2009 Summit League runner-up Diana Medina, 2009 Newcomer of the Year Whitney Curtis and second-team all-conference honoree Shelli Richardson.

North Dakota State finished in second place behind Southern Utah with 74 points while South Dakota State (56), Oakland (53) and Oral Roberts (50) took third, fourth and fifth respectively. IPFW (42) and IUPUI (41) took sixth and seventh, only separated by a single point. UMKC (23), Western Illinois (22) and Centenary (9) wrapped up the polling in eighth, ninth and tenth place.  

The SDSU men's team topped the polls with 79 points while the SUU men were five points back, with 74. Oakland trailed in third with 61 points, followed by North Dakota State and Oral Roberts tied in fourth with 51 points. Sixth place is IUPUI (48) followed by Western Illinois (32) in seventh. UMKC (28), IPFW (16) and Centenary (10) finished in eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.  

The SUU men return 2009 Athlete of the Year and Summit League Championship MVP Cameron Levins, as well as fellow standout Kevin Sandall, two first-team all-League finishers.

The cross country season is set to begin on September 4 when the Thunderbirds travel to Pocatello, Idaho to participate in the Idaho State Invitational.

-Utah College Sports News staff and wire reports

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Utah College Sports Wire