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DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (Cross Country) – The 2017 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28 on the campus of Delaware Valley University. The Messiah Falcons men and Misericordia Cougars women were selected as the favorites in the MAC Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll conducted among the conference cross country coaches.
 
The championship event will begin with the men’s 8,000-meter race at 11 a.m., and the women’s 6,000-meter race will follow at 12 p.m. The awards ceremony is set for approximately 1:15 p.m. or 30 minutes after women’s results become official.
 
Admission to the 2017 MAC Cross Country Championships is free. A limited amount of safety yellow short and long sleeve t-shirts will be for sale on site for $15 and $18 each, respectively. The shirts are made of 100 percent polyester interlock with moisture-wicking and UV protection performance.
 
Directions, parking and course maps are available at the championship central page. Results, photos and video interviews will be posted on the championship central page after the conclusion of the championships.
 
The Messiah Falcons were selected atop the first-ever MAC Men’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll with 13 of the 17 first-place votes for 249 points. Stevenson was selected second with 225 points and two first-place votes. DeSales (211 points), Eastern (203 points), Misericordia (199 points) and Widener (199 points) rounded out the top-five of the poll. Widener collected the final first-place vote. (Full poll can be viewed below)
 
The Misericordia Cougars were selected as the favorites in the first-ever MAC Women’s Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll with 11 of the 17 first-place votes for 247 points. DeSales was selected second with 236 points and four first-place votes. Messiah was positioned third with 226 and two first-place votes. Lebanon Valley (218 points), Eastern (188 points) and Widener (188 points) rounded out the top-five of the poll. (Full poll can be viewed below).
 
Widener has claimed the previous four men’s team and individual titles dating back to 2013. The 2016 men’s individual champion and runner-up, both from Widener, graduated in the spring. DeSales and Messiah tied for second-place in the team standings last year, while Misericordia finished fourth and Stevenson took fifth. Messiah junior Benjamin Schott, Misericordia senior Sean Luzzi and Widener sophomore Frank Livolsi finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively, a season ago. Last year’s 5th-10th place finishers all return this year, including (in respective order) Stevenson junior Langston Gash, DeSales junior Gabe Lamm, Lebanon Valley senior Nick Scullin, King’s senior Ben Siegel and Misericordia junior Alex Fitch.
 
DeSales claimed its first-ever women’s team and individual title a season ago, and Messiah took second-place. Misericordia finished third, Lebanon Valley took fourth and Widener rounded out the top-five. The Bulldogs senior Veronica Wheeler returns for her final championship after winning the event last year. Seven of last year’s 2nd-10th place finishers return this year, including Wilkes junior Morgan Jones, DeSales junior Meaghan Driscoll, King’s sophomore Tara Johnson, Eastern sophomore Megan Bernotas, DeSales senior Beth Dauer, Messiah sophomore Leanne Weaver and Eastern junior Kierra Zack.

 

2017 MAC Men's Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll
Rank	Team	Points	(1st Place Votes)
1	Messiah	249	(13)
2	Stevenson	225	(2)
3	DeSales	211
4	Eastern	203
t5	Misericordia	199
t5	Widener	199	(1)
7	Lebanon Valley	190
8	Wilkes	138
9	King's	131
10	Alvernia	102
11	Manhattanville	96
12	Arcadia	82
13	Hood	80
14	Delaware Valley	76
15	Lycoming	68
16	FDU-Florham	44
17	Albright	19
2017 MAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Championship Coaches' Poll
Rank	Team	Points	(1st Place Votes)
1	Misericordia	247	(11)
2	DeSales	236	(4)
3	Messiah	226	(2)
4	Lebanon Valley	218
t5	Eastern	188
t5	Widener	188
7	King's	167
8	Stevenson	153
9	FDU-Florham	108
10	Wilkes	107
11	Lycoming	106
12	Arcadia	90
13	Delaware Valley	85
14	Alvernia	70
15	Manhattanville	51
16	Hood	41
17	Albright	31