LEBANON, Tenn. – The Cumberland men’s and women’s cross country teams were both picked eighth in the Mid-South Conference in a vote of league coaches announced this week.

Cumberland reinstated the cross country program in April after a seven-year absence. First-year head coach Jared Klosterboer has five men and six women to compete in 2012, including six freshmen.

Shawnee State is the two-time defending champion in the conference on the women’s side and the men won last year’s crown and finished ninth at the national championships.

The Bears posted 10 first-place votes and 100 total points from the men’s coaches, with the University of the Cumberlands receiving the other first-place vote. Georgetown College, Campbellsville University, the University of Rio Grande and UVA-Wise ranked 3-6, with Lindsey Wilson seventh. The University of Pikeville, St. Catharine College and Bluefield College rounded out the poll on the men’s side.

SSU picked up eight first-place votes and 97 points from the women’s coaches, with the Cumberlands in second with 91 points and two first-place votes and Georgetown third with the remaining first-place tally. Rio Grande, Campbellsville, Lindsey Wilson and UVA-Wise ranked 4-7 and Pikeville, St. Catharine and Bluefield rounded out the poll.

Cumberland begins the season September 22 with a meet at Rio Grande and the Mid-South Championships take place November 3, also at Rio Grande.

2012 Mid-South Conference Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

2012 Mid-South Conference Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll