The Sun Belt Conference released its 2020 Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Friday.
For the first time since joining the Sun Belt in 2013, the men’s team was not the preseason favorite. The Mavericks were tabbed to finish third behind Appalachian State University and Arkansas State University, picking up one first-place vote.
On the women’s side, UTA was picked to finish in fifth place behind Arkansas State, Appalachian State, the University of South Alabama and Texas State University.
“The preseason polls always represent an exciting time of the year because it means the season is upon us, but this year the preseason favorite is COVID-19 and the team that's best able to navigate the daily-changing cross country schedule,” head coach John Sauerhage said in a press release.