CHENEY, Wash. — The Big Sky Conference announced its Preseason Cross Country Coaches' Polls on Thursday, with Eastern Washington coming in at t-5th on the men's side and t-7th on the women's.

The Eagle men and women both finished 6th at the 2022 Big Sky Championships held at Fairways Golf Course in Cheney, highlighted by Noah Hasselblad's 21st-place result. Lilly Fetzer finished 28th in women's race. This year's conference meet will be in Missoula, Mont. on Oct. 27.

The Eagles open their 2023 schedule with their lone home meet of the season, hosting the Clash of the Inland Northwest on Friday, Sept. 1 on campus at EWU. Attendance is free.

The Coaches' Polls are each voted on by the league's 10 cross country head coaches. Eastern's Sam Read enters his sixth season as head coach of the Eagles in 2023 after a previous stint as an assistant at Montana State.

2023 Men's XC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1) Northern Arizona (10) – 100
2) Montana State – 89
3) Weber State - 80
4) Idaho – 69
T5) Eastern Washington – 47
T5) Idaho State – 47
T7) Montana – 39
T7) Portland State – 39
9) Sacramento State – 25
10) Northern Colorado – 15

2023 Women's XC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1) Northern Arizona (10) – 100
2) Montana State – 87
3) Idaho - 81
4) Weber State – 71
5) Idaho State – 42
6) Portland State – 41
T7) Eastern Washington – 39
T7) Northern Colorado – 39
9) Montana – 31
10) Sacramento State – 19

() – Indicates First-Place Votes
 

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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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