BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Lee University men's cross country team received nine first-place votes to land at the top of the 2023 Gulf South Conference Preseason Poll. The Flames accumulated 119 points, while Mississippi College had 110 points and two first-place votes to claim second. Alabama Huntsville garnered the final first-place vote on their way to No. 3 with 103 points.
The Flames enter the season as the defending GSC Champions and are also seeking the program's third-straight NCAA Division II South Region Championship. Four of the seven runners that helped the team record a 16
th-place finish at the 2022 NCAA DII National Championship return.
"Our men had an amazing year last year," said Lee Director of Men's and Women's Cross Country Caleb Morgan. "We beat four of the top 12 teams at nationals in the regular season. With our No. 1 athlete losing a shoe at NCAAs and our No. 3 being sick the week of nationals we weren't able to capitalize on a top eight finish. We feel this year we are just as capable as last season with more determination to get it done on the day it matters most."
The Flames travel to Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday, September 1 to open the season at the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational. The meet will run at the Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course with the men starting at 8:30 a.m. ET.
2023 GSC Men's Cross Country Poll
First-place votes ( )
- Lee – 119 (9)
- Mississippi College – 110 (2)
- Alabama Huntsville – 103 (1)
- Montevallo – 87
- Auburn Montgomery – 74
- Valdosta State – 68
- Christian Brothers – 59
- West Alabama – 47
- West Florida – 46
- Union – 42
- West Georgia – 26
- Shorter – 11
