VIDEO: Borden Preseason Poll Interview

ROCK HILL, S.C.- The South Atlantic Conference released the 2024 Men's and Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll this morning, where both men's and women's teams ranked sixth. 

"It's a good starting point," said Borden. "I believe we can have some improvment and can go up those ranks as the season goes on."

Carson-Newman's men's and women's cross country were both voted sixth in the SAC Preseason Polls. The men ranked sixth with a total of 93 votes. Finding themselves in the top half of the conference. The Eagles were only outranked by Wingate (144), Catawba (124), Anderson (121), Lenoir-Rhyne (115), and Lincoln Memorial (95). Colten Lee and Bryson Burkett were named 2024 SAC Men's Cross Country Runners to Watch. 

"Colten Lee is coming off of a big sophomore year...I do believe he has a shot at nationals," said Borden. "Bryson Burkett is a returner whose shown improvement from his freshman season. We're looking for him to have a big year."

The Eagles women's team also seized the No. 6 spot receiving 87 votes in the Preseason Poll. Wingate earned the top spot with 11 first place votes and 143 votes total followed by Catawba (130), Lenoir-Rhyne and Anderson tied with (116), and Lincoln Memorial (101). Two Eagles runners were named to the  Women's Cross Country Runners to Watch in the poll including Jenna Pittman and Peyton Couch.

"Jenna Pittman is coming off of an all-conference season and we expect her to be competitive," Borden said. "We expect Peyton Couch to contribute towards that all-conference marker."

Wingate and Catawba take the top spots in both the men's and women's preseaon polls.

"Both of those programs are very established, and always have teams that are at the top. It gives us a framework of the competition and what we're trying to get towards as we train," Borden said.

The results from the rankings are tied to the Eagles' finishes at the 2023 SAC Championship in Newton, S.C. The men placed sixth overall in the Men's 8K race with a total score of 185. The team was led by the performance of Colten Lee placing 9th overall with a time of 23:25.7. 

The women's ranking corresponds to their finishes in the 2023 SAC Championship where the team finished sixth overall in the 6K race with a score of 137 and an average time of 22:16. Imke Van Gog earned the fastest finish with a time of 21:34.4 placing 17th overall. 

Carson-Newman Cross Country is set to begin the season at the LMU Railsplitter Open in Ewing, Va. Stay up to date with all things Eagles athletics by visiting cneagles.com.

2024 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

2024 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll