Posted: August 30, 2005

Athletics: Coaches Pick Arkansas to Win 2005 SEC Cross Country Title

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorback cross country team led the preseason picks by the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Coaches and was selected to win the men’s title in 2005. Winners of 14 consecutive SEC titles, Arkansas was the choice to continue its reign atop the SEC, receiving all possible first-place votes and totaling 100 points. Capturing their 15th SEC championship this season would give the Razorbacks 32-straight conference titles, dating back to 1974 when UA won 17 Southwest Conference titles.

"It’s always nice when your peers think you’re No. 1," Arkansas head coach John McDonnell said. "Now we have to try to maintain that ranking. On paper we’re a far superior team than last year. We have outstanding freshmen coming in and our younger guys have come back much better, plus Peter Kosgei wasn’t here during cross country last year. I’m excited and so is the team. We’re not taking anything for granted in the SEC and we’ll try our best to get No. 15.”

The Florida Gators were second in the coaches’ poll with 77 points and one first-place vote. Tennessee also tallied 77 points, placing them in third. Georgia followed in fourth with 72 points and Alabama rounded out the top five with 70. Points were awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

This year’s league meet is being hosted by LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Oct. 29. The Hog team is looking forward to competing with a roster loaded with returning All-Americans, such as Josphat Boit, Peter Kosgei and Marc Rodrigues. Boit is also the defending SEC Champion, while sophomore Shawn Forrest was last year’s runner-up. The Razorbacks will open the 2005 season at home with the Arkansas Invitational on Sept. 9. The four-mile race will start at 7 p.m., on the Razorback Cross Country Course at Agri Park.

    
2005 Preseason Cross Country Poll
Team           (Votes)        Points
 1. Arkansas           (10)              100
 2. Florida           (1)                77
 3. Tennessee               77
 4. Georgia                             72
 5. Alabama                      70
 6. Auburn                        67
 7. LSU                            36
 8. Kentucky                     36
 9. Mississippi State            34
 10. Ole Miss                     20
 11. Vanderbilt               10