MACON, Ga.- The Kennesaw State men’s cross country team  was picked to defend their Atlantic Sun Conference title on Wednesday, as the Owls placed first in the A-Sun preseason coaches’ poll.

The Owls return several runners to try and repeat their success. Of the five Owls to earn All A-Sun honors during last season’s A-Sun Championship, four of them, including seniors Nathan Haskins and Piotr Witczak, junior Jaakko Nieminen and sophomore Nabil Hamid return to head coach Stan Sims’ squad. Having such a big part of the team’s core return is what no doubt resulted in the Owls receiving seven out 11 possible first place votes in the poll.

The Owls were able to go beyond the conference meet for the first time in their NCAA Division I history, placing eighth in the 2009 NCAA South Region Championship.

Although being the preseason number one is an honor, Sims knows the target is now on their backs.
“The hunter has now become the hunted,” said Sims, who also welcomes four freshmen to the squad. “Last year, we were ranked number four, so being picked first this season, I hope we will be able to live up to it.”

Sims and his squad will take the starting line for the first time on Sept. 4 when they travel to Jacksonville, Ala. for the Jacksonville State Invitational.
 
2010 A-Sun Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

1.	Kennesaw State
2.	USC Upstate
3.	ETSU
4.	Belmont
5.	UNF
6.	Lipscomb
7.	Mercer
8.	FGCU
9.	Campbell
10.	Jacksonville
11.	Stetson