JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 6, 2004) -- The East Tennessee State men's cross-country team was selected to finish third in the conference while the women's team was picked seventh in the SoCon preseason poll, released Monday from the league offices in Spartanburg, S.C. The Buccaneer men finished behind Appalachian State and Chattanooga, who tied for first place in the poll. Chattanooga won the conference cross-country championship last season, followed by Appalachian State and ETSU. Chattanooga was first in the women's poll, with 2003 SoCon champion Davidson finishing second. Both ETSU teams opened their 2004 seasons on Saturday morning, competing in the Festival in the Fields, hosted by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. The Buccaneer women finished fifth while the men's squad placed seventh. The 2004 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships will be held on the campus of Furman University on Saturday, October 30.