Greenville, SC – Conference Carolinas announced the 2023 Men's Cross Country preseason poll on August 25 with the UNC Pembroke Braves being picked as the favorite.

The Braves of UNC Pembroke were picked first in the poll with 167 points and 11 first place finish votes.  UNC Pembroke won the Conference Carolinas championship and went on to have several compete in the Southeast Regional and National Championship.  They will bring back a trio of All-Conference athletes.

Southern Wesleyan was picked second in the poll with 138 points, giving them the highest pick in the preseason poll in school history.  The Warriors finished the 2022 season in third place with then freshman Ronan O'Neill claiming Freshman of the Year honors after he finished in third with a time of 25:33.4.   He was joined by both Thomas Macagg and Drew Jones in receiving All-Conference honors.

Coming in third in the preseason poll are the Lees-McRae Bobcats with 132 points.  The 2022 season runner-up Emmanuel Lions were picked fourth with 127 points and the last three first place finish votes.  The Belmont Abbey Crusaders were the fifth team picked in the poll with 121 points.

The field was wrapped up by the North Greenville Crusaders (116), Erskine Flying Fleet (90), Converse Valkyries (87), University of Mount Olive Trojans (68), Barton Bulldogs (63), Young Harris Mountain Lions (52), King Tornado (46), Francis Marion Patriots (38) and Chowan Hawks (29).

Southern Wesleyan will kick-off the 2023 season in Young Harris, GA as they compete in the YHC Cross Country Invitational on September 1 at 4 p.m.  They will then travel to their local race of the year on September 16 as they travel right down the road to Greenville, SC to compete at the Furman Invitational.  The Warriors will wrap up the regular season at the FSU Invite on September 29 and then the Royal Challenge on October 6.  The Conference Carolinas Championship will be held in Charlotte, NC at McAlpine Park on October 21.