With eight consecutive SLIAC Championships, the SLIAC coaches have selected Greenville University as the preseason favorites in the 2024 men's cross country season. Greenville totaled 64 points including eight first-place votes in the coaches voting. The Panthers have eight returning All-Conference runners, headlined by Gianni Estrada. Estrada became the first runner in conference history to win four straight individual titles and will look to add to that with his COVID year this fall. Joe Gomez, Josh Medlin, Drake Rutledge, and James Goodenow all had top ten finishes at last year's championships and are joined by fellow returners Tony Lakotich, Jalen Franz, and Jeremiah Perry. Head Coach Brian Patton thinks newcomer Jack Arends could be another face in the long line of standout runners for the program.
Principia College was picked 2nd with 56 points, receiving the only remaining first-place nod. The duo of Rex Heath and Zach Proctor are back after earning All-Conference honors last fall. Dominic Baiocchi and Holland Thomas are among the six newcomers that head coach Nick Barron brought into the program.
Coming in 3rd on the voting is Webster University with 51 total points. The Gorloks return All-Conference runner Ethan Nieroda. The sophomore was the team's top finisher in all seven his team's races last fall and placed 8th at the SLIAC Championship. Johnny Imboden, another sophomore, is back while William Howells comes over from the track program this fall. Head Coach Kyle Robinson is excited for his team's added depth, bolstered by newcomers Daniel McClellan, Noah Smith, and Jacob Hawkins.
After finishing 5th at last year's championship, Spalding University comes in 4th on the poll with 40 points.The Golden Eagles return all five runners from last year's championship including Wyatt Frye, who finished 18th. Noah Stinson and Caleb Stinson add to the team's depth for head coach Stephen Gray while newcomer Tobias Rice will look to push his way into the mix.
Lyon College received 36 points, placing 5th on the poll. Head Coach Adam Trausch is anticipating strong seasons from Gavin Bush, Jakobe Alcorn, and Andrew Hernandez. Bush finished in the top two for his team in six of seven races last fall. Top newcomers for the Scots include Collin Orvin, Noah Cordes, James McNew, Tim Brady, and Danny Thomas.
Eureka College was picked 6th with 31 total points. The Red Devils return their top two runners from last year in Jose Amador and Tony DeLira while welcoming back Bailey Webster who missed last season due to an injury. Head Coach Robinson will look for that trio to lead his roster which includes several two-sport athletes in Tucker Williamson and Michael Beaumont. Freshman Kristoffer Collins-Brown joins the program while Hayden Skaggs has had a summer to train after missing all of the fall season and most of the spring.
Westminster College finished with 19 points, placing them 7th in the voting. Head Coach Hunter Briggs brings back four runners (Michael Giles, Lane Martin, Henry Warfel, and Kerrick Adkins) from last year's program while adding another three new faces. Giles paced the team last fall with five top finishes for the Blue Jays including his 25th place showing at the conference championship.
Blackburn College collected 17 points, putting them 8th on the poll. The Beavers return a pair of runners in Collyn Oberkfell and Ulises Espenosa. First-year head coach Noah Daum is excited to see the growth of Oberkfell after a summer of hard work. Among the newcomers joining the program wiill be Scott Cuff, who should make an immediate impact in the lineup.
MUW totaled 10 points, finishing 9th in the voting. Returners Jakobe Smith leads the way for head coach Dedrick Burnett. Smith ran in four races last fall, closing his season out with a career best time at the SLIAC Championships. The Owls will be a young team as they bring in a group of newcomers that include Tavonta Macon and Jourden Whitfield joining from the track program and freshmen Cortland Earl and Noel Kellum arriving on campus.