Elmhurst, Ill. ???C Both Oakland University???s men???s and women???s cross country teams were picked for second place finishes in the 2003 Mid-Continent Conference preseason cross country poll in a vote by the league???s coaches. Oakland???s men???s team received two first place votes and totaled 56 points overall, finishing just behind the top pick, Southern Utah, by two points. It was the same 1-2 pick in the women???s poll, with the Golden Grizzlies picking up one first place vote and tallying 50 points to Southern Utah???s 58 points. Oakland???s men???s team, which toppled the Thunderbirds from a five-year hold on the Mid-Con title with its first-ever championship, returns five all-conference runners from that championship squad. Juniors Adam Frezza (Oxford, Mich.) and Paul Kulisek (Wonder Lake, Ill.), who posted top-five finishes at the conference meet last season to earn first team all-conference honors, both return to lead the squad. Seniors Jason Bruscha (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Brandon Fisk (Shelby Township, Mich.) and junior John Cook (St. Clair, Mich.), second team all-conference runners last season, also return to give OU a strong nucleus of runners to defend its title with. Oakland???s women???s team has a solid returning contingent as well. Junior Melissa Nassers (Battle Creek, Mich.) finished second at the Mid-Con meet last year and was a first team all-conference selection. Also back for the Golden Grizzlies are sophomore Sarah Drouillard (Lake Orion, Mich.), the Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year, junior Sarah Kane (Sterling Heights, Mich.), an all-conference performer, and senior Kristie Kieffer (Sterling Heights, Mich.), the 2000 Mid-Con Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Oakland will open its season on August 30 when it hosts the Motor City Classic.

Mid-Con Preseason 2003 Men???s Cross Country Poll       Mid-Con Preseason 2003 Women???s Cross Country Poll1. Southern Utah (6)    58                          1. Southern Utah (6)    582. Oakland (2)          56                          2. Oakland (1)          503. IUPUI            44                          3. Valparaiso (1)   444. Valparaiso (1)   40                          4. Western Illinois 415. Western Illinois 39                          5. IUPUI            406. UMKC                 30                          6. Oral Roberts (1) 347. Chicago State    21                          7. UMKC                 22    Oral Roberts    21                          8. Chicago State    199. Centenary            16                          9. Centenary            16