Mountaineers picked to finish sixth in preseason Cross Country polls
By Paul Hall on Friday, August 20th, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Information provided by EOU Athletics) The Cascade Collegiate Conference has released its preseason Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Preseason Poll as announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. Eastern Oregon University is picked to finish sixth for both men and women.
Beginning on the women’s side, the Mountaineers tallied 53 points to grab the No. 6 spot in the preseason rankings. They were just seven points back of being in the No. 5 spot which went to Northwest.
For the Mountaineer women, they do bring back a number of harriers from a 2020 season that was modified multiple times and ultimately shortened. Back this year to lead the women’s team will be senior Michelle Herbes who was an All-CCC selection last year after finishing fifth at last year’s conference meet. She ultimately went on to qualify for the NAIA National Championships as well.
Returning to help guide the Mountaineer women as well is Katie Jo Gebhardt who will also be in her senior season in 2021. She competed in nearly every race in 2020 and will look to use her experience to help guide the Mountaineer women. Also back in the mix is sophomore Jaimee Baxter, who ran in all but one race during the regular season in 2020. She was a top-three scorer for EOU as a true freshman and will look to add depth to an experience, but still young squad.
College of Idaho comes in as the odds-on favorite to once again win the CCC on the women’s side. The Coyotes picked up nine of the 10 possible first place votes and totaled 99 points to earn the No. 1 spot. Lewis-Clark State College is picked second with 90 points and grabbed the only other first place vote. Oregon Tech is third with 74 points followed by Southern Oregon with 68 points. Northwest rounds out the top-five with 60 points.
On the men’s side, EOU racked up 62 points to sit sixth as well and were just eight points back of being ranked in the top-five. Like the women, the Mountaineer men were right behind Northwest in the preseason poll.
For the Mountaineer men, they also bring back a number of runners from the 2020 season that saw race time in the shortened season. Leading the way this year for EOU will once again be Travis Running who was an All-American last year after finishing 21st at the NAIA National Championships. He was an All-CCC selection as well after finishing fifth at the conference meet.
Running will not be alone in leading the men’s squad as Hunter Nichols will also be back in the mix. Nichols was a top-two runner for EOU last season and had a solid all-around year in both cross country and track & field. He ran in every race during the cross country season and was an All-American in the indoor season in the 1,000-meter run. Looking to add depth to the Mountaineers as well will be John McMahon who redshirted the 2020 season after transferring from Trinidad State Junior College.
Earning the No. 1 spot in the men’s poll is LC State with 97 points and eight first place votes. Oregon Tech is slotted second with 83 points, but did not pick up a first place vote. Southern Oregon is ranked third with 82 points and grabbed one first place vote. College of Idaho received the only other first place vote and tallied 68 points to sit fourth. Northwest rounds out the top-five with 60 points.
The Mountaineers will get the 2021 campaign started in mid-September with they host the annual EOU Invitational. The meet will take place Sept. 17 out at Lane Farms. The women’s race will run at 5:45 p.m. PT, followed by the men’s race at 6:30 p.m. PT.
CCC Preseason Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll (1st Place Votes)
1. College of Idaho (9) – 99 points
2. LC State (1) – 90 points
3. Oregon Tech – 74 points
4. Southern Oregon – 68 points
5. Northwest – 60 points
6. Eastern Oregon – 53 points
7. Bushnell – 38 points
8. Corban – 35 points
9. Multnomah – 21 points
10. Walla Walla – 10 points
CCC Preseason Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll (1st Place Votes)
1. LC State (8) – 97 points
2. Oregon Tech – 83 points
3. Southern Oregon (1) – 82 points
4. College of Idaho (1) – 68 points
5. Northwest – 60 points
6. Eastern Oregon – 52 points
7. Corban – 39 points
8. Bushnell – 30 points
9. Multnomah – 23 points
10. Walla Walla – 10 points
