Highly Favored Preseason Polls Set Stage for 2024 Alabama Cross Country Season
8/27/2024 11:09:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide men and women have been picked to finish second in the SEC Preseason Poll, as the USTFCCCA predicts the UA men to finish first in the South Region and the women at third
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In the opening week of the 2024 cross country season, Alabama has found itself predicted with top-three finishes spanning across the Southeastern Conference and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason polls, announced by both organizations on Tuesday.
Both the Alabama men's and women's programs were picked to finish second at the 2024 SEC Cross Country Championships, according to a vote of the league's head coaches. Over in the USTFCCCA Preseason Regional Rankings, the men's cross country team was predicted as the preseason favorite for just the third time since 2010, with the women coming in at No. 3.
A season ago, the UA men finished as the runner-up at the conference meet with Victor Kiprop defending his individual title. All five scoring runners for Alabama finished in the top 25. Meanwhile, the women placed fourth to secure the program its fifth-straight, top-five finish at the meet.
In 2023, Hillary Cheruiyot highlighted the UA men's South Regional Championships by claiming the individual title as Kiprop finished second. Doris Lemngole captured a second-place, individual finish to pace the women's team.
SEC Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll
Men
- 1 – Arkansas
- 2 – Alabama
- 3 – Texas
- 4 – Ole Miss
- 5 – Texas A&M
- 6 – Auburn
- 7 – Tennessee
- 8 – Florida
- 9 – Missouri
- 10 – Kentucky
- 11 – Oklahoma
- 12 – Georgia
- 13 – LSU
- 14 – Vanderbilt
Women
- 1 – Florida
- 2 – Alabama
- 3 – Arkansas
- 4 – Tennessee
- 5 – Ole Miss
- 6 – Texas A&M
- 7- LSU
- 8 – Texas
- T9 – Auburn
- T9 – Vanderbilt
- 11 – Missouri
- 12 – South Carolina
- 13 – Kentucky
- 14 – Oklahoma
- 15 – Mississippi State
- 16 – Georgia
USTFCCCA Cross Country Preseason Regional Rankings
Men
- 1 – Alabama
- 2 – Ole Miss
- 3 – Tennessee
- 4 – Florida State
- 5 – Auburn
Women
- 1 – Florida
- 2 – Tennessee
- 3 – Alabama
- 4 – Lipscomb
- 5 – Ole Miss
Up Next | Foothills Invitational
- Follow live: Live stats link is available at RollTide.com
- Date: Friday, Aug. 30
- Time (CT): Men – 5:30 p.m. | Women – 6:15 p.m.
- Location: Oxford, Ala.
- Venue: Choccolocco Park
Players Mentioned
