CLINTON, Miss. --- With the season starting this week, the Mississippi College men and women's cross country teams picked up some recognition from the Gulf South Conference and the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association heading into the first meet of the season.
 
The men were selected third in the conference's preseason poll in a vote by the league's head coaches and garnered a first-place vote. MC finished behind UAH, which was picked as the favorite in the conference with Lee in second. The women were tabbed second and picked up two first-place votes and finished by Lee.
 
Outside of the conference preseason poll, the men are ranked 29th in the USTFCCA National Poll and sit third in the association's preseason regional rankings. The women also sit third in the regional rankings and received votes in the national poll.
 
The Choctaws host a field of 12 men and women's teams in the Mississippi College Season Opener on Friday, Sept. 3. Joining MC on Friday are fellow Magnolia State programs, Alcorn State, Belhaven, Blue Mountain, Delta State, Jackson State, Millsaps, MUW, Mississippi Valley State, Tougaloo and William Carey.
 
The women's 5K is slated for 5:30 p.m. with the men's 5K marked for 6 p.m.