CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Canisius men’s cross country team was tabbed sixth, and the women’s team was slotted fifth in the 2018 MAAC Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the league office Tuesday.
On the men’s side, 27-time MAAC men’s cross country champion, Iona, was selected as preseason favorites with 11 first-place votes and 121 overall points. Manhattan (104) was slated to finish second behind the Gaels, while Siena (93) rounds out the top three. Marist (82) was voted fourth and in fifth place was Monmouth (79).
Canisius received 73 total points, placing them in sixth, followed by Rider in seventh and Quinnipiac in eighth, with 54 and 47, respectively. Fairfield tallied 36 points, Niagara University (26) and Saint Peter’s (11) round out the preseason poll.
For the women, defending champion Iona was selected to finish first with 117 points and eight first-place votes. Marist (106) follows in second, while Quinnipiac (95) ranks third. Manhattan received 86 points putting them in fourth place while Canisius comes in fifth place with 75 points.
Monmouth (71) was picked sixth place. Siena received 56 points to come in seventh place. Rider came in eighth place with 41 points. Fairfield (38) placed ninth, while Niagara was 10th with 29 points. Saint Peters received 12 points to round out the poll.
The Canisius men’s team finished fourth at the 2017 MAAC Championship while the women placed fifth in the 11-team field. The Griffs start their season Saturday, Sept. 1 with the 50th running of the Little Three Championship, hosted by St. Bonaventure.
The 2019 MAAC Cross Country Championships take place on Saturday, Oct. 27 and is hosted by Siena College at The Crossings of Colonie Park in Loudonville, New York.
