RICHMOND, VA - The Colonial Athletic Association today announced the results of the pre-season Coach's Poll for men's cross country, and the William and Mary Tribe was tabbed as the heavy favorite to win its seventh consecutive title.

William and Mary received seven of the nine possible first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team), and totaled 63 points to lead the poll. Last year's third-place team, Georgia State, picked up a first-place vote and tied with James Madison for second with 52 points. George Mason University earned the remaining first-place vote, and was picked to finish fifth.

The Tribe return eight of last year's top ten runners, including CAA Runner of the Year and Champion Ian Fitzgerald (Glenshaw, PA), and 2004 All-American Christo Landry (Falls Church, VA). W&M opens the cross country tomorrow at Virginia's Lou Onesty Invitational, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

2006 Colonial Athletic Association Pre-Season Coach's Poll
Team (First-place Votes), Points
1. WILLIAM AND MARY (7) 63
2. Georgia State (1), 52
James Madison, 52
4. Delaware, 41
5. George Mason (1), 35
6. Virginia Commonwealth, 34
7. Hofstra, 23
8. Northeastern, 13
9. UNC Wilmington, 11

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.