BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The University of Charleston is the 2022 preseason pick to win the Mountain East Conference men's cross country title, following a vote of the league's head coaches. Charleston received nine of the 10 first-place votes and collected the maximum possible points at 81.

The Golden Eagles won the MEC men's cross country crown a season ago by scoring five of the top six runners in the championship race. From last year's championship winning team, UC returns Thomas Termote, Noah Revels and Warren Thiel, but will have to replace standouts Casey Ellis and Matthew Forrester. UC has won four consecutive MEC titles.

Concord was voted second in the poll with 69 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Mountain Lions will have to replace the MEC Runner of the Year, Isaac Prather, but return Preston Prather and Logan Zuchelli to the roster this fall (both runners earned top 10 finishes at 2021 MEC Championship). Davis & Elkins was next with 67 points, followed by West Liberty (58), West Virginia Wesleyan (45) and Frostburg State (39). Glenville State occupied the seventh spot in the poll with 37 points, and Fairmont State (28), Wheeling (17) and Alderson Broaddus (9) completed the poll.
 

The Men's Cross Country team looks to build off last season where they finished 8th place at the MEC Conference Championships and 22nd at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. Top returning runners are fifth year senior Miguel Figueroa, Senior James Smoak, Junior Alex Morris and Junior Antonio Luketic. Someone to keep your eye on is Senior Transfer Will Lemaster, this will be his first season competing and he will be a big contributor. They have also added 6 new runners, one of their biggest recruiting classes in recent memory. They open the year at Ohio University September 3rd. 
 

2022 MEC Men's Cross Country Poll

1.     Charleston (9) – 81

2.     Concord (1) – 69

3.     Davis & Elkins – 67

4.     West Liberty – 58

5.     W.Va. Wesleyan – 45

6.     Frostburg State – 39

7.     Glenville State – 37

8.     Fairmont State – 28

9.     Wheeling – 17

10.  Alderson Broaddus – 9