The Emporia State cross country squads are predicted to finish ninth and tenth in the preseason MIAA coaches poll.

The men’s team is predicted to finish ninth out of nine squads and the women are predicted to finish tenth out of 11 squads with Lindenwood being the predicted last place team.

The women will be led by Emily Schoenfeld, who finished 17th at the MIAA cross country championship last year.

The men will be led by Jordan Smith and Thomas Laroche, who each had top five finishes in the MIAA outdoor track championships last spring.

The cross country program is led by Eric Wellman. Coach Wellman is in his second season coaching the cross country teams. He is also an assistant track coach, who helps coach the distance runners.

The Hornets and Lady Hornets open up their seasons on September 11 with a dual against Newman in Witchita, Kansas. On Sept. 19 they will go to Lincoln, Nebraska, to Nebraska Weslyan for the Woody Greeno Invitational. Emporia State will have their home invitational on Sept. 25.

They then will travel to Hays for the FHSU Invitational, that will be followed by the MIAA

Championships will be on Oct. 24 and the NCAA regionals on Nov. 7.