Preseason coaches’ poll tabs Razorbacks second in SEC title chase

BIRMINGHAM – Only one first-place vote separated Arkansas and Alabama in the 2022 SEC cross country coaches’ poll, and the result has the Crimson Tide favored over the Razorbacks for this year’s team title.

Six first-place votes went to Alabama while five were given to Arkansas with Tennessee garnering one vote. The tally in points from voting among the three schools favor the Crimson Tide with 17 over 22 for the Razorbacks and 30 for the Volunteers.

Points for the men’s poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11 basis. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.

Arkansas has claimed the team title the past two seasons, earning the first installment of consecutive SEC triple crowns with indoor and outdoor team titles following each season.

Overall, the Razorbacks have a conference record of 27 cross country team titles among the 31 league meets they have contested since joining the SEC in 1991. On the other four occasions, Arkansas finished second three times and third once.

Alabama, with three SEC titles, last won a pair of cross country team titles in 2008 and 2009 along with a 1973 title. The Crimson Tide were recently runner-up in 2017 and 2019.

The Razorbacks season begins this week with a trip to Oklahoma State on Thursday, September 1, for the Cowboy Preview as the Razorbacks race over a 5,000m course.

2022 SEC Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll
(parenthesis indicate first-place votes)