SEC preseason coaches’ poll slightly favors Alabama over Razorbacks

BIRMINGHAM – Close voting among conference coaches in the 2022 cross country preseason poll has Arkansas predicted to finish second in the SEC Championship this fall behind Alabama.

Alabama garnered eight first-place votes compared to six for the Razorbacks, producing a one-point edge, 20-22, for the team favored to win the team title in Oxford, Mississippi, this October.

Points for the women’s poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13 basis. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.

Arkansas has claimed nine consecutive SEC titles in cross country with a total of 22 since joining the league in 1991. The Razorbacks have finished runner-up seven times among the nine times they haven’t been team champions.

The Crimson Tide, third last season and runner-up in 2020, previously won the SEC cross country title in consecutive years in 1986 and 1987. Alabama has been runner-up in the league seven times since 1983.

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 3,000m course.

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