ELMHURST, ILLINOIS -- A year ago, the Southern Utah men's and women's cross country teams each kept alive its streak of winning Mid-Continent Conference titles. The Thunderbird men's squad won its fourth Mid-Con crown in as many years, while the Southern Utah women won their third straight championship. Mid-Con cross country coaches tend to think that both of those streaks will be kept alive in 2001, as Southern Utah has been tabbed to win both the men's and women's Mid-Con cross country crowns this year. Last year, the Southern Utah men posted the lowest team score in Mid-Con Cross Country Championship history (22), as well as the widest victory margin (46) since the league began sponsoring the sport in 1982. The top five Thunderbird finishers in last year's championship meet earned all-conference honors, with four (including 2000 Mid-Con Cross Country Athlete of the Year Curtis Moore) taking home first-team All Mid-Con accolades. However, Southern Utah returns none of those top five performers, and only one letterman overall, from last year's squad. The Thunderbirds received five first-place votes in the poll. UMKC and Valparaiso tied for second in the men1s preseason poll, with UMKC receiving one first-place tally and Valparaiso garnering two. UMKC finished a distant second to Southern Utah in last year1s championship, and the Kangaroos expect to return three all-conference performers from last season's team. Valparaiso finished fourth last season in the Mid-Con Championship, and the Crusaders also are looking for three all-conference honorees to return this year. Oakland has been predicted to finish fourth this season, while Western Illinois, Oral Roberts, IUPUI and Chicago State round out the rest of the league's field. On the women's side, Southern Utah picked up six first-place votes in the preseason poll, and was an overwhelming choice as the favorite for the 2001 season. The Thunderbirds had four runners earn all-conference honors in last year's championship meet, and two of those honorees - Jandee (Hood) Anderson and Robyn Adams - return this year. Oakland was tabbed to finish second in the preseason poll, mostly due to the return of 2000 Mid-Con Athlete of the Year Kristie Kieffer, who won the individual title at the 2000 Mid-Con Cross Country Championship a year after earning Newcomer of the Year honors. The Golden Grizzlies picked up two first-place votes in the preseason poll. After Southern Utah and Oakland, Mid-Con coaches predict that the Mid-Con meet will be closely contested, with four teams finishing within three points of each other in the poll. UMKC and Valparaiso were tabbed to tie for third in 2001, while Oral Roberts was selected fifth and Western Illinois, which picked up a first-place vote, was tabbed sixth. IUPUI (which returns 2000 Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year Lyndsey Emerson) and Chicago State rounded out the poll. The Mid-Con Men1s and Women1s Cross Country Championship will be held on Saturday, October 27, in Cedar City, Utah, on the campus of Southern Utah University. Meet start times will be decided in the weeks leading up to the championship. Men's Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses) School Pts 1. Southern Utah (5) 8 2. UMKC (1) 16 Valparaiso (2) 16 4. Oakland 24 5. Western Illinois 25 6. Oral Roberts 36 7. IUPUI 38 8. Chicago State 49 Women's Preseason Poll School Pts 1. Southern Utah (6) 8 2. Oakland (1) 16 3. UMKC 26 Valparaiso 26 5. Oral Roberts 27 6. Western Illinois (1) 29 7. IUPUI 43 8. Chicago State 49