DALLAS – The two-time defending Conference USA Women’s Cross Country Champion Middle Tennessee was named the preseason favorite in this year’s C-USA Preseason Poll, the league announced Tuesday. Charlotte, the 2020 C-USA Champion on the men’s side, was favored to win in the poll, which is voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
Last season, Middle Tennessee repeated as the C-USA Champion as four student-athletes placed in the top five to win the women’s title with 31 points. The Blue Raiders, led by 2020 Coach of the Year Keith Vroman, return last year’s individual runner up in Joice Jebor along with Faith Rono and Mercy Chepkurui, who also finished in the top five a year ago.
 
Charlotte garnered one first-place vote to place second in the preseason rankings with a team that welcomes back four All-Conference selections in Chandler Horton, Louise Lounes, Alina Rovnak and Jade Martin. Rice comes in at third place with a roster that includes All-American Grace Forbes who won the 2020 Individual Championship a year ago.
 
Fresh off winning their first C-USA Cross Country title since 2002, Charlotte garnered all but one first place vote to head into the season as the league’s favorite for the men. The 49ers roster features 2020 C-USA Individual Champion Nick Scudder along with seven All-Conference runners from last season.
 
Middle Tennessee scored one first place vote and sits as the second-place pick for 2021. The Blue Raiders finished second at the league meet a year ago with four student-athletes earning All-Conference honors. Rice rounds out the top three led by Hociel Landa who finished fourth at the Championships last season.
 
The 2021 season begins Sept. 1 culminating in the C-USA Cross Country Championships hosted by Charlotte in North Carolina on Oct. 30.
 
2021 C-USA Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Middle Tennessee (12)
2. Charlotte (1)
3. Rice
4. Southern Miss
5. UTEP
6. UAB
7. Marshall
8. Florida Atlantic
9. North Texas
10. FIU
T11. WKU
T11. UTSA
13. LA Tech
 
2021 C-USA Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Charlotte (10)
2. Middle Tennessee (1)
3. Rice
4. UTEP
5. North Texas
6. Marshall
7. Western Kentucky
8. UTSA
9. LA Tech
10. FIU
11. Florida Atlantic