Central Michigan University Athletics
Men Picked Third in Preseason Coaches Poll
8/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
MOUNT PLEASANT – The Central Michigan University men’s cross country squad was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference this season in the league’s preseason coaches poll. The Chippewas are coming off a fifth-place finish a year ago, which ended a run of three consecutive conference titles from 2002-04.
Junior first team All-MAC selection Matt Loiselle and senior second team All-MAC honoree Jeff Powers anchor this year’s squad. Other top returners include junior Andrew Manning and seniors Tom Ruddy and Frank Therrian.
Defending champion Eastern Michigan is favored to repeat in 2006. The Eagles, who bring back a pair of first team All-MAC selections from a season ago, edged out 2005 runner-up Miami for the top spot in the poll.
Kent State was picked fourth, behind CMU, and Ohio rounded out the top five in the preseason rankings. Buffalo, which will host the MAC Championships on Saturday, October 28, was picked to finish sixth, followed by Akron and Bowling Green. Toledo rounded out the poll being picked to finish ninth.
CMU opens the 2006 season by hosting the Jeff Drenth Memorial on Friday, September 1 at 4 p.m.
2006 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Eastern Michigan
2. Miami
3. Central Michigan
4. Kent State
5. Ohio
6. Buffalo
7. Akron
8. Bowling Green
9. Toledo
Junior first team All-MAC selection Matt Loiselle and senior second team All-MAC honoree Jeff Powers anchor this year’s squad. Other top returners include junior Andrew Manning and seniors Tom Ruddy and Frank Therrian.
Defending champion Eastern Michigan is favored to repeat in 2006. The Eagles, who bring back a pair of first team All-MAC selections from a season ago, edged out 2005 runner-up Miami for the top spot in the poll.
Kent State was picked fourth, behind CMU, and Ohio rounded out the top five in the preseason rankings. Buffalo, which will host the MAC Championships on Saturday, October 28, was picked to finish sixth, followed by Akron and Bowling Green. Toledo rounded out the poll being picked to finish ninth.
CMU opens the 2006 season by hosting the Jeff Drenth Memorial on Friday, September 1 at 4 p.m.
2006 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Eastern Michigan
2. Miami
3. Central Michigan
4. Kent State
5. Ohio
6. Buffalo
7. Akron
8. Bowling Green
9. Toledo
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