The Southern Oregon men's cross country will start out the season ranked second in the NAIA Top 25 rankings, while the SOU women's team will enter the season ranked 25th.

The Raider men finished the 2009 season ranked No. 1 in the rankings and finished third at the NAIA National Championships. The SOU women entered the rankings for the first time recent memory on the final week of last year at No. 25.

SOU was also picked to win its third-straight Cascade Conference crown on the men's side, while the women are picked to finish fourth.

The SOU men return all of their top 10 runners, including senior David Laney (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) who finished seventh at the NAIA Championships. On the women's side, SOU returns five of the six top runners, including All-American Seena Frantz (Ashland, Ore./Ashland).

SOU will open up the 2010 season Sept. 18 at the Washington Sundodger Invitational.