MACON, Ga. - The Atlantic Sun Conference released it's Preseason Cross Country Coaches Poll on Wednesday, and the Stetson men were picked to finish ninth, while the women were picked to finish 10th.

The Hatter men were ranked ninth in the preseason poll, the same place they finished in last year's championship race. They were ranked ahead of Jacksonville, who was picked to finish 10th.  

Defending champion USC Upstate was voted to finish first in the conference, earning one more point than Kennesaw State in the preseason poll. Both teams split the first place votes, earning five each.

The third through six teams in the preseason poll were Lipscomb, ETSU, North Florida, and Mercer, respectively. Northern Kentucky was voted to finish seventh by the coaches in their first season in the Atlantic Sun.

The Hatter women were picked to finish 10^th, which is where they finished last year in the conference championship.

Defending champion Lipscomb was voted to finish first in the conference in the preseason poll earning every first place vote from the coaches. North Florida followed in second in the preseason poll securing all of the second place votes.

Following North Florida in the preseason poll placing third through sixth was Jacksonville, Mercer, FGCU, and USC Upstate, respectively.  

In the first year as a member of the Atlantic Sun, Northern Kentucky was voted to finish seventh, just like the men. Finishing up the preseason voting, ETSU and Kennesaw State were picked to finish in eighth and ninth, respectively.

The Stetson Cross Country teams will open their season at the FGCU Invitational on Friday, August 31.