Flames selected as favorites In GSC Cross Country poll
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With the start of the cross-country season just over a week away, the Lee University men’s cross-country squad was picked to repeat at Gulf South Conference champions. The Flames have claimed the last three GSC titles and seven overall. The Flames received 99 points to be atop the poll. The University of Alabama in Huntsville was just behind them at 92 points. Mississippi College was third with 82 points. The University of West Florida and Auburn University Montgomery rounded out the top five.
Last year, the Flames posted its third straight GSC Championship The title was the seventh overall for the Lee men The Flames placed three runners in the top five and six in the top 10 on their way to recording 24 points. The Flames are tied with UAH for the most titles by schools currently in the conference. Former members Troy University has 16 total titles and Harding University has 10.
At the NCAA South Region, Lee placed four runners in the top 10 and collected 39 points to win the program's fourth consecutive NCAA Division II South Region Championship.
Photo of Stephen Clark.
The Flames recorded 490 points to finish 16th out of 34 teams at the 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships This was the fourth straight season the Flames finished in the top 20 of the DII championships. Lee placed 17th in 2021, 16th in 2002 and posted the program's best finish at 14th in 2023.
This season the Flames will compete in three regular season meets. They will kick off the season on Friday, September 12 in Huntsville, Ala. running in the Southern Showcase. The second meet will be the NCAA DII National Championship Preview in Kenosha, Wisc. The final regular season meet will be back in the Rocket City (Huntsville, Ala.) as Lee will run in the UAH Charger Invite.
The GSC Championships will be held in Memphis, Tenn. on October 25. The NCAA South Regional will be on November 8 in Lakeland, Fla. The national Championship will be in Kenosha, Wisc. on November 22.
GSC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Lee – 99
2. UAH – 92
3. Mississippi College – 82
4. West Florida – 69
5. Auburn Montgomery – 68
6. Christian Brothers – 55
7. Union – 45
8. Montevallo – 35
9. West Alabama – 29
10. Trevecca Nazarene – 18
11. Valdosta State – 13
(First-place votes in parentheses)
