ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson men's cross country team has been predicted to finish seventh in the South Atlantic Conference in a vote by the league's coaches, as released by the conference office on Thursday.
Senior standout Parks Edwards earned a spot on the second-team all-conference squad after finishing eighth overall and being named second-team All-SAC following last year's conference championship.
The honor marks Edwards' fourth league accolade after earning all-freshman honors in 2010 and being named First-Team All-SAC following the 2011 championship.
"Parks is no stranger to conference awards," said Anderson head coach Randy Greer. "He's a senior and we will be looking for him to be a low scorer and lead the team this year, while earning first-team all-conference honors."
Mars Hill was the clear favorite to claim its 17th consecutive conference championship, picking up 11 first-place votes and tallying the maximum 121 points, while Wingate collected the other first-place vote and finished with 111 points. The Lions were dominant at last season's Food Lion SAC Cross Country Championship, winning the team title by 70 points over second-place Wingate.
Lenoir-Rhyne (97 points) was the coaches' third choice, with the fourth through seventh slots separated by just six points. Lincoln Memorial (80 points), Brevard (78 points) and newcomer Queens (76 points) were selected fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively with Anderson following just behind in seventh place after garnering 74 points. Continuing the men's poll was Tusculum at No. 8 and Newberry at No. 9. Anderson placed sixth, Tusculum seventh and Newberry eighth at the 2012 SAC Championship.
"I'm pleased that we only dropped one spot from last year considering the talent we lost," said Greer. "This ranking is a good start and it shows that no one is counting us out."
Anderson opens the season on Sept. 6 at USC Upstate's Eye Opener in Spartanburg, S.C.
Men's Cross Country SAC Preseason Coaches
Poll
1. Mars Hill 121 (11)
2. Wingate 111 (1)
3. Lenoir-Rhyne 97
4. Lincoln Memorial 80
5. Brevard 78
6. Queens 76
7. Anderson 74
8. Tusculum 47
9. Newberry 34
10. Catawba 30
11. Coker 27
12. Carson-Newman 17
SAC Preseason First Team
Steve Hammond, WU
Alex Griggs, MHU
Cesar Reyes, MHU
David Cooper, TC
Bradley Maldonado, LMU
Brady Adcock, MHU
Aaron Nelson, L-R
SAC Preseason Second Team
Parks Edwards, AU
Carter Benge, MHU
Patrick Helmick, BC
Kiel Bollero, MHU
Binyam Belachew, WU
Ryan Mecca, LMU
Nathan Collier, NEW
