KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2013 MIAA Cross Country Polls find a common thread as both the men’s and women’s coaches have selected Southwest Baptist atop the league and Missouri Southern to finish second. On the women’s side MSSU, who is picked second, was last year’s champion while Fort Hays State, who won the men’s championship, is picked third overall.

In the men’s poll both SBU and MSSU received four first place votes as the Bearcats came in just one points ahead of the Lions. Fort Hays State also earned a first place vote and is two points ahead of Nebraska-Kearney who is picked fourth in the poll. Central Missouri earns the fifth spot on the men’s side coming in four points ahead of sixth pick Northwest Missouri.

Pittsburg State holds the number seven spot while Lindenwood is picked to finish eighth. Emporia State is picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll.

In the women’s poll SBU got five first place votes and came in two points ahead of MSSU who earned four first place votes. Pittsburg State picked up two first place votes and earned the third spot. Central Missouri was picked in the fourth spot overall ahead of Northwest Missouri who was picked fifth.

Their was a tie for the sixth place spot as both Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State each racked up 50 points in the poll. Lindenwood earned the eighth spot in the poll while Central Oklahoma comes in eight points behind as the ninth pick. Emporia State sits just two points ahead of Lincoln in the tenth and eleventh spots.

The MIAA Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Pittsburg State on October 26 in Pittsburg, Kan.

— MIAA Media Relations —

2013 MIAA Preseason Men’s Coaches Poll
1. Southwest Baptist (4)        58
2. Missouri Southern (4)        57
3. Fort Hays State (1)            47
4. Nebraska-Kearney            45
5. Central Missouri                34
6. Northwest Missouri           30
7. Pittsburg State                  28
8. Lindenwood                      17
9. Emporia State                    8

2013 MIAA Preseason Women’s Coaches Poll
1. Southwest Baptist (5)         94
2. Missouri Southern (4)         92
3. Pittsburg State (2)              86
4. Central Missouri                 73
5. Northwest Missouri             62
T6. Nebraska-Kearney           50
T6. Fort Hays State                50
8. Lindenwood                        38
9. Central Oklahoma              30
10. Emporia State                  16
11. Lincoln                              14