The High Point University men's cross country team was picked second in the Big South Preseason Poll released on Thursday. The Panthers return five of their top eight runners from last season's runner-up squad.

"Based on last year's conference championship results and who is returning from each team, it's pretty clear cut that people would vote us second," said HPU head coach Mike Esposito. "That said, we're not conceding anything to Liberty. It's going to take a lot of work but our goal is to win the conference championship."

Liberty was the unanimous top pick in the poll, followed by HPU, VMI and Coastal Carolina. UNC Asheville was picked fifth, Winthrop sixth, Gardner-Webb seventh, Charleston Southern eighth, Radford ninth and Presbyterian College 10th.

HPU returns junior Neal Darmody and sophomores Jacob Smith and Dakota Peachee, who all ran very strongly at the Big South Championship in 2009. Darmody placed seventh at the cross country championship and had a strong track season in the distance events. Smith was named Big South Freshman of the Year after placing ninth at the championship in 2009. Peachee took 14th in his first Big South Championship in cross country and had a major breakthrough during the outdoor track season, setting the HPU record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Senior Jevin Monds has been a strong middle distance runner for HPU and the Panthers will need him and junior Mike Ali to continue that improvement in cross country. Freshmen Patrick Crawford, Jacob Roach and John Yankello all have a chance to contribute right away.

"We have three solid returners with Neal, Dakota and Jacob," said Esposito. "Jevin is healthy and fit and we're expecting him to have a really good cross country season. The fifth spot could come from Mike Ali or any of our three freshmen. I think this is one of the most talented cross country teams we have had at HPU. Our goal is to have at least four runners in the top 10 at the Big South Championship."

Adding depth for the Panthers are junior Mike Feroe and sophomores Anthony Kilar, Mike Peavey and Jonathan Riley.

High Point opens the season on Sept. 3 at the Covered Bridge Open at Appalachian State and runs in the Big South Preview Meet at Radford on Sept. 25. The Big South Championship is Oct. 30.