FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The USA South Athletic Conference released its preseason coaches poll on Thursday and the Piedmont College men’s cross country team was voted to finish third.
Two-time defending champions Berea College captured 12 first-place votes for a total of 144 points. Covenant was voted second and received the last first-place vote for 128 points.
Piedmont garnered 116 points for third with Methodist just behind with 114 points.
N.C. Wesleyan rounds out the top five with 93 points.
Berea, Piedmont and Covenant have combined to win the past six conference championships with each winning back-to-back. The Mountaineers are looking to become the first team since Christopher Newport to win three consecutive titles.
The Captains won every conference championship from 1993-2012.
Piedmont opens the season on Friday, August 30, at Berry College for the Watermelon Run.
| 2019 USA South Men’s Cross Country Coaches Preseason Poll | ||
| Rank | Institution (1st Place Votes) | Pts. |
| 1 | Berea^ (12) | 144 |
| 2 | Covenant (1) | 128 |
| 3 | Piedmont | 116 |
| 4 | Methodist | 114 |
| 5 | N.C. Wesleyan | 93 |
| 6 | Pfeiffer | 91 |
| 7 | Brevard | 89 |
| 8 | LaGrange | 55 |
| t-9 | Averett | 50 |
| t-9 | Brevard | 50 |
| 11 | William Peace | 33 |
| 12 | Mary Baldwin | 29 |
| 13 | Huntingdon | 22 |
| ^Defending Champion | ||
