LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola is the preseason darling when it comes to PacWest Conference cross country. Both of Head Coach Sean Henning's teams were selected as the favorite in the annual preseason coaches' polls.

Biola Women's Cross Country accumulated a pair of first-place votes and finished with 128 total points to edge Azusa Pacific (123) and Point Loma (122). Curiously, that poll had one team (Academy of Art) earn five first-place votes, but not even make it into the top-3. The Urban Knights finished second at the conference meet last season. California Baptist won both conference titles in 2017, but did not return to the conference for 2018.

Biola Men's Cross Country accumulated four first-place votes and led the poll with 90 total points. They were ranked just ahead of Academy of Art (87) and Azusa Pacific (80). Once again, Academy of Art received the most first-place votes (5), but did not lead the poll. The Urban Knights also finished second on the men's side last year.

The women's side returns four of its top seven runners from 2017, including three in the top-5. The men's team returns five of its top seven and four of its top five, including returning NCCAA National Champion, Gabe Plendcio.

Cross Country season is just around the corner as both teams open with the Biola Invitational at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, California on Sept. 8.