Men's Cross Country Picked 3rd in C-USA
8/31/2021 1:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
Owls return three all-conference runners
DALLAS - Rice men's cross country has been picked to to finish third in the Conference USA Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll, which was announced Tuesday (8/30) afternoon.
The Owls, who finished third at last year's C-USA Championship, slotted behind the defending conference champion Charlotte 49ers (10 first place votes) and runner-up Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1 first place vote). Rice has finished third in C-USA in each of the last four seasons.
The Owls return a roster led by a trio of all-conference performers from last season. Senior Hociel Landa earned his first career appearance at the NCAA Championships this past spring after earning First Team All-Conference honors in the fall with his fourth place finish. In addition, the Owls return Third-Team All-Conference awardees in junior Andrew Abikhaled and sophomore Ace Castillo. The Owls also welcome back senior Alex Topini, who has twice earned C-USA all-conference accolades.
Rice opens the 2021 season on Sept. 10 when they host the annual Rice Invitational from the Intramural Fields. The men's race is scheduled to start at approximately 6:45 p.m.
2021 C-USA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Charlotte (10)
2. Middle Tennessee (1)
3. Rice
4. UTEP
5. North Texas
6. Marshall
7. Western Kentucky
8. UTSA
9. La Tech
10. FIU
11. FAU
The Owls, who finished third at last year's C-USA Championship, slotted behind the defending conference champion Charlotte 49ers (10 first place votes) and runner-up Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1 first place vote). Rice has finished third in C-USA in each of the last four seasons.
The Owls return a roster led by a trio of all-conference performers from last season. Senior Hociel Landa earned his first career appearance at the NCAA Championships this past spring after earning First Team All-Conference honors in the fall with his fourth place finish. In addition, the Owls return Third-Team All-Conference awardees in junior Andrew Abikhaled and sophomore Ace Castillo. The Owls also welcome back senior Alex Topini, who has twice earned C-USA all-conference accolades.
Rice opens the 2021 season on Sept. 10 when they host the annual Rice Invitational from the Intramural Fields. The men's race is scheduled to start at approximately 6:45 p.m.
2021 C-USA Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll (First place votes)
1. Charlotte (10)
2. Middle Tennessee (1)
3. Rice
4. UTEP
5. North Texas
6. Marshall
7. Western Kentucky
8. UTSA
9. La Tech
10. FIU
11. FAU
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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