LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shepherd University men's cross country team has been picked to finish 16th in the 2022 PSAC Preseason Poll as announced by the league office today. Edinboro has been chosen as the favorite.  

The Fighting Scots won a fourth consecutive PSAC Championship last season in a dominant fashion with 32 points. The team saw all runners finish in the top 35, including four placing in the top eight of the Championship meet. All top eight finishers—Ward Ries, Nick Amos, Jack Lacina, and Cole Hanks—return for another season looking to continue the winning streak.
 
Placing second in the poll with a single first-place vote is Shippensburg. The Raiders tallied 71 points at the 2021 PSAC Championships, losing only to Edinboro. This year, they return the program's second-ever individual title winner, Chayce Macknair, as well as 2021 Rookie of the Year, Ethan Hunt.
 
In third, coaches voted Lock Haven after their third-place, 124-point showing at the 2021 PSAC Championships. The Bald Eagles bring back Top-10 finisher, Gage Krall, as well as another All-Conference performer in Kohen Stover.
 
IUP, the fourth-place finisher of the 2021 PSAC Championship meet, has received a corresponding fourth-place prediction. Joel Beckwith, Marco Cardone, and Kendall Branan will return as a trio of All-Conference second-team honorees.
 
Coaches have chosen Slippery Rock to take fifth place in 2022. The team will be led by All-PSAC second-team finishers Devon Navaroli and Shannon Dooley.
 
Bloomsburg was named to the sixth slot after taking sixth at the 2021 PSAC Championship meet. Seventh-place finisher Hunter Jarratt will rejoin as lead runner for the Husky squad.  
 
Rounding out the top 10 selections are Gannon, Kutztown, California (Pa.), and West Chester.
 
In order, Mercyhurst, East Stroudsburg, Seton Hill, Mansfield, Pitt-Johnstown, and Shepherd wrap up the rest of the poll. 

The Rams will open the 2022 campaign at the Galen Piper XC Challenge at Shippensburg University on Sept.2. 

The complete poll is listed below. 

2022 PSAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
(# of First-Place Votes)
1. Edinboro (15)
2. Shippensburg (1)
3. Lock Haven
4. IUP
5. Slippery Rock
6. Bloomsburg
7. Gannon
8. Kutztown
9. California (Pa.)
10. West Chester
11. Mercyhurst
12. East Stroudsburg
13. Seton Hill
14. Mansfield
15. Pitt-Johnstown
16. Shepherd