BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The University of Arkansas men and the Vanderbilt University women have been predicted to win the 2012 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, as decided by a vote of the league’s head coaches. The SEC released its 2012 Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday.
Points for the men's poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis while the women's poll was awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13 basis. The 2012 season marks the first in SEC competition for both Missouri and Texas A&M.
The Arkansas men claimed their 19th SEC Cross Country Championship in the last 21 years in 2011 and finished third at the NCAA South Central Regional. The Razorbacks garnered nine first-place votes in the men’s coaches poll.
Florida was predicted to finish second in the men’s coaches poll, earning one first-place vote, while Texas A&M was predicted to place third, grabbing three first-place votes.
The Vanderbilt women captured their first-ever SEC Cross Country Championship last fall, finished as the runners-up at the NCAA South Regional and posted a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Commodores received eight first-place votes in the women’s coaches poll.
Arkansas was predicted to finish second in the women’s coaches poll, earning three first-place votes, while Florida, which was predicted to place third, also garnered three first-place votes.
The 2012 SEC Cross Country Championships are slated to take place Friday, Oct. 26 at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tenn.
For all of the latest information on SEC Cross Country, please log on to www.SECDigitalNetwork.com or follow @SEC_Sean on Twitter.
2012 Men's Predicted Order of Finish
1.Arkansas (9) -- 15
2.Florida (1) -- 28
3.Texas A&M (3) -- 31
4.Georgia -- 44
5.Kentucky -- 65
6.Missouri -- 70
7.Alabama -- 84
8.Tennessee -- 87
9.Ole Miss -- 100
10.Auburn -- 103
11.Mississippi State -- 112
12.LSU -- 131
13.Vanderbilt -- 144
2012 Women's Predicted Order of Finish
1.Vanderbilt (8) -- 21
2.Arkansas (3) -- 27
3.Florida (3) -- 33
4.Texas A&M -- 54
5.Georgia -- 68
6.Missouri -- 71
7.Ole Miss -- 93
8.Alabama -- 97
9.Tennessee -- 107
10.Kentucky -- 123
11.Mississippi State -- 126
12.Auburn -- 132
13.South Carolina -- 158
14.LSU -- 164
