RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference released its preseason men's cross country rankings, as voted on by the league's eight head coaches, on Tuesday afternoon and slotted in the middle of the pack is twelfth-year head coach Tim Servis' Southern Arkansas Muleriders who have the veteran leader optimistic that the squad will once again compete near the top of the league after citing several strong returners and a quality freshman class.
 
Eleven runners return for Servis this fall as All-GAC First Team honoree Rob Kraus is back along with fellow seniors Asher Hamlin and Evan Delgado. Six freshmen and six sophomores highlight the youthful roster, while juniors Hector Hernandez and Carlos Armendariz offer experienced depth in addition to junior newcomers Jaime Quinones and Isaiah Garzon.
 
Southern Arkansas' fourth place allotment has the group sandwiched between first-year program Ouachita which sits in fifth place and seven points back of the Muleriders and third-place Oklahoma Baptist; the league runner-up in late February and recipient of 34 total points and one of the eight possible first-place votes.
 
The Muleriders competed in three meets last winter finishing second at the weather-inflicted Lois Davis Invitational, winning the Bob Gravett Invitational and placing fourth of six at the GAC Championships.
 
SAU will open the season in Tennessee at the Memphis Twilight on September 4 which stands as one of three times the Muleriders will leave the state this fall. On October 9, SAU competes in the Mississippi College Watson Invitational and on November 6, the squad heads to the Central Region Championship in Joplin, Missouri. The Lois Davis Invitational returns to Magnolia for its annual fall run scheduled for September 24 with the high school and junior high meets taking place the next day. On October 23, Southern Arkansas gears up for the GAC Championships hosted by Harding in Searcy.