TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College men's cross country team has been picked to finish in a tie for second in the 2018 Landmark Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the conference coaches.
The Hounds received 52 points in the poll along with Juniata College while defending Landmark Conference Champion Elizabethtown College was picked first in the poll with 68 points and six first-place votes. Juniata received the other two first-place votes.
Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jesse Baumann begins his eighth season leading the program with 10 returning runners including juniors Gregory Jaindl, Gavin Kemery and Justin Beasley-Turner, who each earned Landmark All-Conference honors a year ago with Jaindl on the First Team with a third-place finish at the 2017 Landmark Championships and Kemery and Beasley-Turner making the Second Team after finishing in 10th and 12th place.
"On paper, it looks like it'll be a very similar battle as last year," noted Baumann. "Juniata returns a strong top five including four who broke 16:00 for the 5k back in May. E-Town returns the majority of their winning team from last year and they got some strong freshmen in, so those two teams should be the favorites headed in. However, our team is undeniably better in 2018 than we were in '17. Our men had an incredible spring track season, and we followed it up with a great summer. Senior Devon Harris, Greg, and Justin all ran 4:23 or faster in our mile time trial. Sophomore Peter Gingrich and Gavin are in the best shape they've ever come into the season with, and we have a very deep freshman class. We had 10 guys run 4:45 or faster in our mile time trial so our depth is as strong as it's ever been, and I think we can be in the mix once we get to late October."
The Greyhounds will begin their 2018 season on Friday, August 31 at the Bulldog Invitational being hosted by DeSales University with race time set for 6:00 p.m.
To view the entire 2018 Landmark Conference Preseason Poll, visit http://landmarkconference.org/sports/xc/2018-19/releases/08282018-mxc-preseason-poll.
