ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Missouri Valley Conference cross country coaches voted in the annual preseason poll and predicted the Indiana State women’s cross country team to finish third, while picking the men’s team to finish in the middle of the pack in fifth place.

“We’ve looked very good so far,” ISU women’s head coach John Gartland said. “I think the teams picked two to five are very close. We have the ability to surprise some people and move up a bit.”

Gartland said the rest of the poll filled out about the way he thought it would.

“It shows the coaches think Southwest Missouri State is the clear leader and they are a strong no. 1,” Gartland said.

SMS received all 10 first place votes and a total of 90 votes.

Illinois State came in second with 80, followed by ISU (64), Northern Iowa (62), Southern Illinois (60), Bradley (39), Evansville (30), Drake (30), Creighton (24) and Wichita State (13).

On the men’s side, ISU was picked to finish in fifth place.

“I think fifth place is a little low,” ISU men’s head coach John McNichols said. “We have a number of good returning runners, who have looked great so far. I think this will be a great motivator.”

Northern Iowa was tabbed for the top honor on the men’s side with 82 votes. Illinois State actually received more first place votes (four) to UNI’s three, but came in second overall with 79 votes. SMS (67) and Drake (60) each received one first place vote a piece to come in third and fourth respectively followed by ISU (55), Southern Illinois (49), Wichita State (46), Evansville (30), Bradley (17) and Creighton (10).