SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The VMI men's cross country team was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon's preseason coaches' poll, which was released by the conference Thursday. The Keydet women were selected eighth.

VMI, who finished third in the league last year, received 57 points in the poll and trailed Furman (81, nine first-place votes), ETSU (66, one first-place vote) and Samford (64) in the selection. Western Carolina (46), Chattanooga (43), UNCG (37), Mercer (23), The Citadel (17) and Wofford (16) rounded out the poll.

On the women's side, defending champion Furman was once again selected first with 81 points. The Paladins swept the first-place votes for both genders, other than the one cast by their program, as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Chattanooga earned the remaining first-place vote and was tied for second with Samford, with both teams having 67 points. ETSU's 61 points were fourth, with UNCG (41), Mercer (40), Western Carolina (38), the Keydets (26), The Citadel (22) and Wofford (11) rounding out the women's preseason poll.

VMI cross country opens its season Friday, Sept. 4, when the Keydets take part in the Covered Bridge Open in Boone, N.C. Action gets underway at 5:30 p.m.