GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota men's cross country team is ranked seventh in the 2009 Great West Conference's annual preseason coaches poll released on Thursday.
UND returns five letterwinners from last year's team that placed sixth at the conference championship in its first year as a Division I program. Senior Kyle Rosseau (Eagan, Minn.) is the top returning runner after a 2008 season in which he was UND's top finisher in all six meets and was named the team's most valuable runner.
Head coach Michael Grandall enters his 28th season at UND and is the school's longest-tenured coach.
Utah Valley received six of eight first-place votes and was voted the league's preseason favorite. Defending conference champion Texas-Pan American received the remaining two first-place votes and tied Houston Baptist in the voting for second place.
Fourth-ranked South Dakota and fifth-ranked Seattle round out the top five in the poll. Chicago State was picked to finish eighth.
The Sioux will open the 2009 season on Sept. 5 when they host the Ron Pynn Classic at the Ray Richards Golf Course in Grand Forks. The Great West Conference Championship is scheduled for Oct. 31 and will be hosted by New Jersey Tech in New York.
2009 GWC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Rk. School (1st-place votes) Points.
1. Utah Valley (6) 62 pts.
2. UTPA (2) 46 pts.
HBU 46 pts.
4. South Dakota 42 pts.
5. Seattle 36 pts.
6. NJIT 26 pts.
7. North Dakota 20 pts.
8. Chicago State 10 pts.
- Go Sioux -
