ATLANTA (August 25, 2023) – The ASUN released its 2023 preseason cross country poll on Friday, announcing North Alabama sixth on the men's side and 10th on the women's side in a vote of the league's head coaches.
 
The men's team cracks the top half of the 12-team field after achieving multiple regional rankings from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) last season. The Lions look to improve upon a seventh-place finish in the 2022 ASUN Championships that was aided by two returners within the top three finishers for UNA in Fedrick Kipyego and Brandon Lee.
 
Meanwhile, the women's squad was selected 10th with 40 points ahead of Florida Gulf Coast and Austin Peay. The Lions finished 10th last season at the ASUN Championships, defeating in-state rival Jacksonville State by 11 points. All four of the top finishers from last season's race return this season, including junior Janeth Jepkirui who was the top individual for UNA at 18:53.7.
 
Additionally, junior Beth Ann Tucker finished runner-up in the ASUN Preseason Runner of the Year fan vote on social media behind Central Arkansas' Sara Steimel by a count of 273 to 256.
 
EKU is the favorite on the men's side with 142 points and 11 of the 12 first place votes. The other vote went to Lipscomb, who was picked second with 129 points. Lipscomb was also picked to win on the women's side with 144 points and all 12 first place votes.
 
To view the full polls, visit asunsports.com.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.