IRVINE, Calif. --- The top of the PacWest conference looked familiar in the 2023 PacWest Preseason Poll on Thursday. The reigning champs placed first in the preseason poll on the women's side and second on the men's.

The Eagles were the first team in PacWest history to sweep the top honors at the conference championships in 2022. BU won the team titles and individual titles for men's and women's, on the way to strong showings at regionals and nationals.

A new campaign approaches and the coaches across the conference voted on the rankings for the teams for the upcoming season. Biola women's cross country tallied 121 points in the poll, while being unanimously chosen as the favorites. All 11 first place votes went for the Eagles, as they landed 19 points ahead of second place, Concordia.

The BU squad returned seven of its 10 runners from the conference championships, including the PacWest Champion, Lynette Ruiz. As the team went on to regionals and then to nationals, Bethany Mapes stepped up and will return in 2023 for year two at Biola.

On the men's side, the Eagles picked up 68 points and came up short of only Azusa Pacific. The Cougars logged 81 points for first and was followed by BU with 68, and Fresno Pacific in third with 65 points.

Biola will be looking to repeat as conference champions with seven returners from the big race. Jerry Baltzer and Ryan Todd will hope to play a major role after earning First Team All-PacWest distinctions last year.

Biola cross country will host its first meet of 2023 on September 8 at Ted Craig Regional Park.