NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Trinity University men are ninth in the South/Southeast and the Colorado College men are 10th in the West according to preseason cross country rankings released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Complete USTFCCA Regional Rankings

A year ago, these two squads battled it out in Shreveport, La. for supremecy of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. In the closest finish in conference history, Trinity edged out Colorado College to capture the 2013 SCAC Men's Cross Country championship.

Trinity finished with 28 points in the 8K run, followed by Colorado College with 29 points. For the Tigers, it was their second straight SCAC Championship as well as their second in school history.

Trinity returns six of its seven All-SCAC runners from a year ago, including junior Taylor Piske who finished second to lead the Tigers with a time of 26:17.7 at the 2013 championship. Junior Chris Soto (sixth- 26:45.4), junior Phillip Flagg (seventh- 27:13.1), and sophomore Tristan Ashton (eighth - 27:15.9) also return. Ashton earned SCAC Freshman-of-the-Year honors a year ago.

Sophomore Evan Epps (10th - 27:27.0) and senior Brandon Douglas (14th - 27:45.8) round out Trinity's all-SCAC performers from a year ago.

For Colorado College, the Tigers return two-time SCAC Runner-of-the-Year, senior Nick Hall. Hall completed last year's course at the Clyde Fant Course in Shreveport, La., in a time of 25:44.1. Hall is seeking to become just the fourth runner in SCAC history to earn Runner-of-the-Year honors three times in a career. The Tigers' Jackson Brainerd, a former teammate of Hall's, last accomplished the feat (2009-2011).

Other All-SCAC performers returning for Colorado College include senior Will Richmond (third 26:27.2), senior Graham Frank (26:33.4), sophomore Ezra Coopersmith (ninth - 27:19.4), and sophomore Ryan Bing (12th - 27:36.4).

Trinity opens defense of its SCAC championship by hosting the Trinity University Alamo City Opener on Friday, August 29. Fellow conference competitors in the event include Schreiner University and Texas Lutheran University. Colorado College opens its season a day later (Saturday, August 30) at the University of Colorado Time Trial.

For a complete 2014 SCAC Men's Cross Country composite schedule, click here.