Photo by: Todd Goodrich
MSU Women’s Cross Country Voted Atop Big Sky Preseason Poll, Men Picked Fourth
8/27/2018 10:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Expectations for the Bobcats are high for the 2018 campaign as MSU women's cross country was voted first in the Big Sky Conference Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll announced by the league on Monday, Aug. 27
OGDEN, Utah –The Montana State women's cross country team finished with its best showing at the Big Sky Conference meet in almost two decades during the 2017 season. Expectations for the Bobcats are high for the 2018 campaign as MSU was voted first in the Big Sky Conference Cross Country Coaches' Preseason Poll announced by the league on Monday, Aug. 27.
Northern Arizona, which has won the last two Big Sky titles and three championships in the previous four seasons, earned five first-place votes in the poll. MSU picked up four first-place votes and Southern Utah accumulated two votes. The Bobcats earned the highest point total in the poll with 111, edging out Northern Arizona (110) and Southern Utah (102).
"I think the poll is mostly based off of last year's cross country championships and the returners from last year," head coach Lyle Weese said. "We return a lot of really outstanding runners and we didn't graduate any of our scoring five from last year."
The Bobcat women's squad returns every point scorer from a team that claimed runner-up at the 2017 Big Sky Championship. Kelsi Lasota and Caroline Hardin were honored as all-Big Sky Conference performers for their top-10 individual finishes at the meet, while Trisha Carlson earned the Big Sky Freshman of the Year award by taking 12th overall.
The Bobcat men were selected fourth in the 2018 Coaches' Preseason Poll with 82 points, just ahead of Idaho (79). Northern Arizona (121) captured all 11 first-place votes. The Lumberjacks were followed by Southern Utah (109) and Weber State (96).
MSU's men's team returns its entire lineup from a season ago that completed a fifth-place showing at the Big Sky Championship. The Bobcats welcome Ty Mogan back into the fold after redshirting last fall as a junior, while also adding four freshmen that finished in the top five at the MHSA Class AA Cross Country Meet during their senior prep seasons.
"We have so many returners including Ty, who was one of our best distance runners but redshirted in 2017, and adding him to the lineup will have an immediate impact," Weese said. "We also have a lot of outstanding freshmen that should impact our team score right away. I think that will lead to a pretty dramatic improvement."
The Bobcat men's and women's cross country teams make their debuts at the 42nd MSU Cross Country Classic hosted in Bozeman, Mont., at Bridger Creek Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 15. MSU is set to compete in four total meets ahead of the Big Sky Cross Country Championships on Oct. 27 in Sacramento, Calif.
Big Sky Conference Coaches' Poll
Men's Preseason Votes
1. Northern Arizona (11) 121
2. Southern Utah 109
3. Weber State 96
4. Montana State 82
5. Idaho 79
6. Idaho State 69
7. Northern Colorado 57
8. Eastern Washington 34
9. Sacramento State 33
10. Montana 27
11. Portland State 19
(First Place Votes)
Women's Preseason Votes
1. Montana State (4) 111
2. Northern Arizona (5) 110
3. Southern Utah (2) 102
4. Idaho 94
5. Weber State 77
6. Montana 59
7. Idaho State 51
8. Eastern Washington 33
T9. Northern Colorado 32
T9. Portland State 32
11. Sacramento State 25
(First Place Votes)
Northern Arizona, which has won the last two Big Sky titles and three championships in the previous four seasons, earned five first-place votes in the poll. MSU picked up four first-place votes and Southern Utah accumulated two votes. The Bobcats earned the highest point total in the poll with 111, edging out Northern Arizona (110) and Southern Utah (102).
"I think the poll is mostly based off of last year's cross country championships and the returners from last year," head coach Lyle Weese said. "We return a lot of really outstanding runners and we didn't graduate any of our scoring five from last year."
The Bobcat women's squad returns every point scorer from a team that claimed runner-up at the 2017 Big Sky Championship. Kelsi Lasota and Caroline Hardin were honored as all-Big Sky Conference performers for their top-10 individual finishes at the meet, while Trisha Carlson earned the Big Sky Freshman of the Year award by taking 12th overall.
The Bobcat men were selected fourth in the 2018 Coaches' Preseason Poll with 82 points, just ahead of Idaho (79). Northern Arizona (121) captured all 11 first-place votes. The Lumberjacks were followed by Southern Utah (109) and Weber State (96).
MSU's men's team returns its entire lineup from a season ago that completed a fifth-place showing at the Big Sky Championship. The Bobcats welcome Ty Mogan back into the fold after redshirting last fall as a junior, while also adding four freshmen that finished in the top five at the MHSA Class AA Cross Country Meet during their senior prep seasons.
"We have so many returners including Ty, who was one of our best distance runners but redshirted in 2017, and adding him to the lineup will have an immediate impact," Weese said. "We also have a lot of outstanding freshmen that should impact our team score right away. I think that will lead to a pretty dramatic improvement."
The Bobcat men's and women's cross country teams make their debuts at the 42nd MSU Cross Country Classic hosted in Bozeman, Mont., at Bridger Creek Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 15. MSU is set to compete in four total meets ahead of the Big Sky Cross Country Championships on Oct. 27 in Sacramento, Calif.
Big Sky Conference Coaches' Poll
Men's Preseason Votes
1. Northern Arizona (11) 121
2. Southern Utah 109
3. Weber State 96
4. Montana State 82
5. Idaho 79
6. Idaho State 69
7. Northern Colorado 57
8. Eastern Washington 34
9. Sacramento State 33
10. Montana 27
11. Portland State 19
(First Place Votes)
Women's Preseason Votes
1. Montana State (4) 111
2. Northern Arizona (5) 110
3. Southern Utah (2) 102
4. Idaho 94
5. Weber State 77
6. Montana 59
7. Idaho State 51
8. Eastern Washington 33
T9. Northern Colorado 32
T9. Portland State 32
11. Sacramento State 25
(First Place Votes)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
Friday, October 27
Wednesday, November 13
Wednesday, October 23
Wednesday, October 16
