INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indianapolis men's cross country has been picked to finish second in the Horizon League this season according to the preseason polls, released on Thursday (Aug. 28). The women's team was picked to finish sixth by the coach's vote. 

The men's squad returns eight members of its championship lineup from a season ago, led by Luke Shappell, Matt Mitsch, Riley Nixon and Joey Ashman. Other returners include Sam Grimes, Cameron Smith, Jay Pillai and Joey LaPatra. Shappell just missed an All-Horizon League finish last season, placing 15th at the Horizon League Championships. Mitsch is coming off an 18th-place finish at the league championships while Nixon and Ashman are expected to take major jumps in year two. The freshman class is headlined by Bloomington North product Caleb Webb and Kentucky-natives Eli Oetken and Isaac Riggs. 

Youngstown State earned the top spot in the preseason polls while IU Indy was followed closely by Oakland and Green Bay. 

On the women's side, head coach Antonio McDaniel has a deep and talented roster at his disposal, including key returners Carina Alanis, Grace Bragg and Ella Colclesser. Alanis was the team's No. 2 finisher at last year's Horizon League Championships while Bragg and Colclesser were among the team's scoring group. Other integral returners include Hannah Robbins, Julianna Crow and Aubrey Nowaskie. Former All-Horizon Leaguer and Purdue Fort Wayne-transfer Brooke Neal will also factor into the team's plans while true freshmen Riley Flynn and Xavery Weisman headline a strong freshman class. 

Reigning champion Robert Morris earned the top spot in the women's polls while Youngstown State was picked second. Oakland and Purdue Fort Wayne also earned first-place votes and were chosen third and fourth, respectively. Milwaukee was also picked just ahead of the Jaguars. 

The season begins in Bloomington on Friday (Aug. 29) at Indiana's Sam Bell Invitational. The men will run a 6,000m race, beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by the women's 4K at 9:15 a.m.