ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams have each been picked to finish eighth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll, the SAC office announced Wednesday.

Both Tusculum teams finished eighth out of 13 schools at last year's SAC Championship meet, and both will field revamped rosters under first-year head coach Alaric Gwynn.

Junior Jerry Ricker and freshman Sofia Cuesta Fuoss were listed as Runners to Watch for the Pioneers this season. Ricker ran in six races last season, placing 85th at the SAC Championship after taking 64th place as a freshman. The Kingsport, Tennessee native has four top-30 finishes in his Pioneer career. Fuoss hails from Erkrath, Germany and will make her Tusculum debut this fall.

Wingate took the top spots in both the men's and women's coaches polls, with the Bulldog men coming off an NCAA Division II team championship in 2023. The top eight positions were identical in both polls, with Catawba, Anderson, Lenoir-Rhyne, Lincoln Memorial, Carson-Newman, Emory & Henry and Tusculum taking those positions behind Wingate.

The Pioneers will begin the 2024 season at the Railsplitter Open on Friday, Sept. 6 in Ewing, Virginia. The SAC Championship will be held Saturday, Oct. 26 at Newberry.

2024 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

2024 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll