LOUISVILLE, Ky., --- The Defending Mid-South Conference champion University of Rio Grande RedStorm men's cross country team is predicted to finish second in the MSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Rio received 74 voting points, including the final two first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The task will be difficult as Rio Grande is riddled with injuries at the beginning of the season and head coach Bob Willey is uncertain of how many runners he'll be able to field for the season.

"Everybody on the men's side ran all summer, they were all in pretty good shape and then injuries started to take place before a lot them even got here," Willey said. "We have to make some decisions on some, whether we're going to redshirt this person or that person."

"It's one of those, we thought wow we could have one of the better seasons we've had in years and I'm wondering now if we're going to have enough to have a team," Willey added.

Shawnee State is projected to win the Mid-South Conference, according to the conference coaches.

The Bears -- in their first season in the MSC -- come off a fourth place finish at last season's NAIA National Championships.

Shawnee State received 79 points from the conference coaches, including eight first-place votes. The University of the Cumberlands is third in the preseason poll with 66 points and Campbellsville is fourth with 52 points.

Georgetown College (51 points), Lindsey Wilson (43), Pikeville College (30), UVA Wise (24), WVU Tech (19) and St. Catharine College (12) complete the preseason poll.

Rio Grande begins on Saturday (September 4) at the Flyer 5 K in Dayton.

The Mid-South Conference Championships are scheduled for Nov. 6 in Portsmouth, Ohio.