Men's Cross Country | 8/30/2017 2:34:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. – When George Mason hosts the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships in October, the Patriots plan to be in the mix for the men's title.

And the rest of league believes Mason will be a contender.

The league released its preseason coaches poll on Wednesday and the Mason men were projected to finish third at the A-10 Championship. The Mason women were picked to finish ninth. The championship will be held on Oct. 28 at Oatland Plantations in Leesburg, Virginia.

Last year, the men placed fourth at the A-10 Championship for their highest finish since winning the conference title in 2014. They return 13 letterwinners and four of their top five scorers from last year's league meet – senior and 2016 all-conference selection Logan Miller, junior Grayson Morgan, junior Trent Lancaster and junior Paul Adam.

The men received 161 points, just one behind projected second-place finisher Duquesne. Last year's champ, Dayton, was picked to repeat, receiving 178 points and seven first-place votes.

On the women's side, the Patriots were tabbed to place ninth. Mason finished 11th last year at the A-10 Championship, with junior Ciara Donohue leading the way as she took eighth and earned all-conference accolades.

All of the Patriots' top five scorers – Donohue, senior Amber Hawkins, sophomore Khalilah Hamer, sophomore Sarah Richart and junior Caitlin Kelly – from last year's league meet return. Mason returns 11 letterwinners and welcomes four freshmen. Last year's champ, Richmond, was projected to win again, receiving 12 first-place votes. Dayton and Davidson round out the top three.

The Mason men and women's teams begin the season this weekend at the Spider Invitational on Saturday at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville, Virginia.