RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? For the first time in league history, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) conducted a cross country preseason coaches' poll this season.? The results of the poll were released on Tuesday, and the Manhattan College men's team was tabbed to finish ninth in the MAAC.? The Jasper women, meanwhile, earned the No. 10 ranking.
Iona, a perennial national power that has won 23 consecutive MAAC championships on the men's side, was the unanimous choice to repeat.? Canisius was No. 2 in the poll with 104 points, followed by Rider with 96 points.? Monmouth (85) and Marist (76) rounded out the top five, while Fairfield (70) was sixth.? Quinnipiac collected 52 points to place seventh, and Siena was eighth with 47 points.? The Jaspers earned 37 points in the poll, ranking ahead of Niagara (27) and Saint Peter's (11).
The Iona women are the nine-time defending MAAC champions, and they, too, were picked to repeat, earning 10 first-place votes and 120 points.? Quinnipiac got the other first-place vote and ended up second with 104 points, while Marist was third with 97 points.? Behind fourth-place Monmouth (84), there was a tie for fifth between Canisius and Rider. ?The Griffs and Broncs both collected 74 points.? Places seven ?nine went to Fairfield (61), Niagara (41) and Siena (32).? Manhattan finished just behind Siena with 28 points, and Saint Peter's (11) rounded out the coaches' selections.
This season's MAAC Cross Country Championships will be held at a new location?Holmdel Park in Holmdel, N.J., on October 31.
