AMERICUS, Ga. -- In a poll released by the Peach Belt Conference, the Georgia Southwestern women's cross country team was picked to finish eighth in the preseason coaches poll while the newly created men's cross country team was picked to finish last (11th place). 

The Lady Hurricanes finished eighth place during last year's PBC cross country championship as they have five returners from last year's squad. Leading the pack this year is the lone senior Connie Lewis followed by sophomores Alex Exum, Nathalie Maralunda, Grace Regan and Retchiel Roble along with a slew of newcomers.   

Both teams open their season competing in the VSU Border Clash hosted by Valdosta State University on Sept. 6. GSW will then compete in the Willie Laster Meet hosted by Albany State on Sept. 28. On Oct. 11, the Lady Hurricanes will compete in the FSU Cross Country Invitational hosted by Florida State University while the men's team will be running in the Bobcat Invitational on Oct. 12. Berry College hosts the Berry Invitational that GSW will be competing in on Oct. 19 before the Hurricanes cap their season at the PBC Championship on Oct. 26. 

Four of the five Lady Hurricane meets will be 5K with the exception of the Berry Invitational, which will be a 6K. The Hurricanes first meet will be a 7.5K while the other four meets will be an 8K. 

The preseason polls are listed below. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

WOMEN
1. North Georgia (7) 107
2. Flagler (3) 94
3. Columbus State (1) 92
4. Augusta 83
5. Georgia College 80
6. UNC Pembroke 68
7. Clayton State 55
8. Georgia Southwestern 37
9. Young Harris 34
10. Francis Marion 31
11. Lander 23
12. USC Aiken 22

MEN
1. Augusta (7) 87
2. UNC Pembroke (2) 80
3. Flagler (1) 78
4. Columbus St. 64
5. Georgia College 59
6. Clayton State 51
t7. Lander 36
t7. Young Harris 36
9. Francis Marion 26
10. USC Aiken 22
11. Georgia Southwestern 11