BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ? The Kentucky women?s and men?s cross country squads were picked to finish fifth and eighth, respectively, in the Southeastern Conference according to the preseason coaches poll, the league office announced Monday.

?I like our situation in the preseason rankings because it gives our kids a lot to shoot for,? said Pat Tyson, assistant coach for distance/cross country. ?We?ve got a young team and it?s our goal to see how high we can climb in the SEC. We?d like to finish above where we were predicted to finish and hopefully we can surprise some people this year.?

Kentucky opens its 2006 slate on Friday when it travels to Richmond, Ky., to participate in the Eastern Kentucky Invitational.

The women?s squad, which finished fourth at last season?s SEC Championships, is led by juniors Lavera Morris (Orlando, Fla.) and Georganne Way (Newmanstown, Pa.). The men, which finished ninth last season, are paced by senior All-SEC selection John Richardson (Ocean City, N.J.).

Arkansas was picked to claim both the men?s and women?s titles in 2006. The Arkansas men?s team has won 15 consecutive titles and receiverd nine first-place votes. The Arkansas women, 10-time SEC Champions, received seven first-place votes.

Points for the men’s poll were awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis while the women’s poll was awarded on a 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

The 2006 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, hosted by LSU, will be held October 28.