IRVINE, Calif.---The Biola University men's cross country team was slated to finish third in the PacWest Preseason Poll voted by conference coaches. 

Ahead of the Eagles was Azusa Pacific in first with 78 points and six first place votes and reigning Champions Fresno Pacific in second with three first place ballots. Biola rounded up third with 60 points followed by ART U (58 points), Concordia (44 points), Dominican (34 points), Hawai'i Pacific (29 points), Holy Names (17 points), and Chaminade (12 points).
 
The Cougars and Sunbirds swapped spots from their previous PacWest Conference Championships finishes while Biola was predicted to repeat their third place placement.

FPU, APU, and BU also ranked in the USTFCCCA regional preseason poll, with Fresno Pacific checking in at second, APU fourth and Biola seventh, the same order they finished in the 2021 regional championships.

Biola returns 11 runners from their 2021 roster including three of the four runners who finished in the top 12 at the 2021 PacWest Championships and four All-PacWest runners. Jerry Baltzer was the Eagles second-highest finisher as the 10th leg across followed by Brady DeHaven (11th) and Ryan Sorensen (12th). Baltzer, DeHaven and Sorensen were also All-Conference Second Team selections and Aidan Arredondo was a third team pick.

The Eagles first competition is Friday, September 9 at the Vanguard Invitational.