The Piedmont College men's cross country team was selected third with the release of the USA South Athletic Conference men's cross country coaches' preseason poll.
Defending conference champions Berea College nabbed 11 first-place voted and totaled 121 points while Covenant College took second with 106 points and the remaining first-place vote.
The Lions, who won the conference championship in 2015 and 2016, received 100 points while Methodist (88 points) and Maryville (72) round out the top-five.
The conference welcomes Brevard and Pfeiffer who are still reclassifying from NCAA Division II status. Both schools will be included in preseason polls and are eligible for regular-season championships honors but will not be able to participate in postseason play.
Piedmont opens the season on Aug. 31 in Oxford Ala., as the Lions will compete in the JSU Strut's Season Opener. The meet will be sponsored by Jacksonville State University.
