Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Men’s Cross Country voted first in C-USA, Women voted third
8/21/2019 1:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, BRAA, Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Less than a month after earning a FloTrack preseason national ranking of No. 22, Middle Tennessee men's cross country was voted to finish first in Conference USA, the league announced Wednesday.
Additionally, MT's women, who placed second in C-USA and ninth in the NCAA South Regional last year, were voted to finish third in 2019, despite four first place votes.
The only other program to receive first place votes in both men's and women's polls was Charlotte, which received two votes on the men's side and one vote on the women's side.
Eusila Chepkemei, Joice Jebor and Rachel Kigen will be three of the top contributors for MT's women this fall. Chepkemei and Jebor both posted top-40 finishes in the NCAA South Regional a year ago, placing 31st and 36th, respectively.
"Conference USA has several very tough teams on the women's side," MT cross country coach Keith Vroman said. "Winning the championship is possible with a lot of smart training and working together as a team to improve throughout the year."
For the men, Brian Rono returns for his sophomore year after a 43rd place finish in the NCAA South Regional as a freshman. All-Americans Kigen Chemadi and Jacob Choge will also return to cross country action after not competing last fall.
"The men's team is a mature bunch that has handled pressure like this before," Vroman added. "They have earned the respect of the coaches in our conference because of their hard work and improvements in the last few years."
MT's cross country teams will run on August 31 in the Memphis Twilight XC Classic to begin the 2019 season.
2019 C-USA Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. UTEP (5)
2. Rice (3)
3. Middle Tennessee (4)
4. Southern Miss
5. Charlotte (1)
6. UAB
7. North Texas
8. FIU
9. UTSA
10. Florida Atlantic
11. Marshall
12. WKU
13. Louisiana Tech
2019 C-USA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. Middle Tennessee (7)
2. Charlotte (2)
3. North Texas (2)
4. Rice
5. UTEP
6. UTSA
7. Marshall
8. Louisiana Tech
9. WKU
10. Florida Atlantic
11. FIU
Additionally, MT's women, who placed second in C-USA and ninth in the NCAA South Regional last year, were voted to finish third in 2019, despite four first place votes.
The only other program to receive first place votes in both men's and women's polls was Charlotte, which received two votes on the men's side and one vote on the women's side.
Eusila Chepkemei, Joice Jebor and Rachel Kigen will be three of the top contributors for MT's women this fall. Chepkemei and Jebor both posted top-40 finishes in the NCAA South Regional a year ago, placing 31st and 36th, respectively.
"Conference USA has several very tough teams on the women's side," MT cross country coach Keith Vroman said. "Winning the championship is possible with a lot of smart training and working together as a team to improve throughout the year."
For the men, Brian Rono returns for his sophomore year after a 43rd place finish in the NCAA South Regional as a freshman. All-Americans Kigen Chemadi and Jacob Choge will also return to cross country action after not competing last fall.
"The men's team is a mature bunch that has handled pressure like this before," Vroman added. "They have earned the respect of the coaches in our conference because of their hard work and improvements in the last few years."
MT's cross country teams will run on August 31 in the Memphis Twilight XC Classic to begin the 2019 season.
2019 C-USA Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. UTEP (5)
2. Rice (3)
3. Middle Tennessee (4)
4. Southern Miss
5. Charlotte (1)
6. UAB
7. North Texas
8. FIU
9. UTSA
10. Florida Atlantic
11. Marshall
12. WKU
13. Louisiana Tech
2019 C-USA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. Middle Tennessee (7)
2. Charlotte (2)
3. North Texas (2)
4. Rice
5. UTEP
6. UTSA
7. Marshall
8. Louisiana Tech
9. WKU
10. Florida Atlantic
11. FIU
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
MTSU Volleyball Recap 10/17-18/25
Tuesday, October 21
Raider Report Game 7 - MTSU vs. University of Delaware
Tuesday, October 21
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 9
Tuesday, October 21
Blue Raider Notebook Presented by TOA - October 20th
Monday, October 20
