WICHITA - The Newman University men's cross country team is the pre-season favorite to win the Heartland Conference, according to the 2010 Heartland Conference Men's Cross Country Pre-Season Poll. The poll, which was voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, was released Monday evening.

Newman will rely on newcomers to carry the torch this season. Zac Ball is the only Jet returning from the five that counted toward the team score for last season's Heartland Conference runner-up squad. Head Coach Josh Schepis has added four freshman stand-outs, and three transfers to the hanger for the Jets' 2010 campaign. .

The Jets open their season Sept. 2, traveling to Wichita Falls, Texas for the Midwestern Stampede hosted by Midwestern State University

2010 Heartland Conference Men's Cross Country Pre-Season Poll (Votes/First Place Votes)
1. Newman (37/5)
2. Dallas Baptist (31/3)
3. Texas A&M International (22/0)
4. Texas-Permian Basin (21/0)
5. Oklahoma Panhandle State (8/0)

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