ROCK HILL, SC - The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's and Women's Cross Country preseason polls have officially been announced, with the women picked to finish third and the men fourth, as voted on by the South Atlantic Conference Coaches. 

Sabrina Fleig and Carolin Fuehren were named the Runners to Watch on the women's side, while Jacob Parkinson and Lewis Budgen were named on the men's side.

Lenoir-Rhyne finished in third at last year's Women's Cross Country SAC Championships, with both Sarina Fleig and Paige Ewald being named ot the All-Conference team. At the NCAA Regionals, the Bears took fourth as a team, with Fleig advancing to the NCAA Championships with a time of 21:39.6. At the NCAA Championships, Fleig finished the 6K course in a time of 21:32, finishing in 94th place. 

Last season the Men's Cross Country team took fourth at the SAC Championships. Jacob Parkinson led the way for LR, taking third with a time of 23:03.77. Joining him on the All-Conference team was Lewis Budgen, who's time of 23:33.90 was good for 11th. Parkinson and Budgen each earned All-Region honors the next week, with Parkinson advancing to the NCAA Championships, where he would take 116th with a time of 31:21.1 over the 10K course. 

Lenoir-Rhyne kicks off this season on Friday, September 6th at the Virginia Tech Invitational. The next three weeks they will be at the Queen City Invite, Converse Kick Off, and the Lock Haven Invitational. The SAC Championships are set to take place on Saturday, October 26th, in Newberry, South Carolina. 

2024 GREAT SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY COACHES POLL
1. Wingate - 143 points (11 first-place votes)
2. Catawba - 130 points (2 first-place votes)
T3.- Lenoir-Rhyne - 116 points
T3. - Anderson - 116 points
5. - Lincoln Memorial - 101 points
6. Carson-Newman - 87 points
7. Emory & Henry - 72 points
8. Tusculum - 69 points
9. Limestone - 54 points
10. Newberry - 49 points
11. Mars Hill - 40 points
12. UVA Wise - 23 points
13. Coker - 14 points

2024 GREAT SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY COACHES POLL
1. Wingate - 144 points (12 first-place votes)
2. Catawba - 124 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Anderson - 121 points
4. Lenoir-Rhyne - 115 points
5. Lincoln Memorial - 95 points
6. Carson-Newman - 93 points
7. Emory & Henry - 76 points
8. Tusculum - 70 points
9. Mars Hill - 51 points
T10. - Newberry - 42 points
T10. - Limestone - 42 points
12 - UVA Wise - 29 points
13 - Coker - 12