SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference today unveiled its 2023 preseason cross country coaches poll with the Western Carolina women selected to finish in fifth place and the Catamount men tabbed to finish seventh.
 
In 2022, the Catamount women's team earned a fifth-place result at the SoCon Cross Country championship, the squad's highest since 2015. Three-time All-Southern Conference honoree Kate Mattison was WCU's top runner - and although she has exhausted her eligibility, Mattison remains in Cullowhee as a graduate assistant coach. Alesea Caldwell is the top returning runner based on results from the 2022 SoCon Championship.
 
The WCU men's team was picked to finish in seventh place following an eighth-place showing at the conference championship meet last year. Matthew Martin earned a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman Team and is WCU's top returning runner.
 
Furman was selected as the league favorite in both the men's and women's polls.
 
WCU opens the season on Sept. 1 at the Young Harris Invitational in Young Harris, Ga.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount cross country and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and Twitter (@catamounts, @catamountxctf).
 
2023 Southern Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1. Furman (8) 80 
2. ETSU (2) 74 
3. Mercer 60 
4. Samford 54 
5. UNCG 52 
6. Chattanooga 36 
7. Western Carolina 34 
8. The Citadel 24 
9. VMI 19 
10. Wofford, 17 
 
2023 Southern Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll 
Team (1st-place votes) Points 
1. Furman (9) 81 
2. Samford (1) 69 
3. ETSU 65 
4. Chattanooga 52 
5. Western Carolina 44 
6. Mercer, 39 
7. Wofford 37 
8. UNCG, 34 
9. VMI, 16 
10. The Citadel 13