NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Following a fourth-place finish at the 2017 Atlantic 10 Men's Cross Country Championship, Duquesne was picked to place third at this year's conference championship meet in a poll of the league's 14 head coaches released on Wednesday afternoon.

Dayton was predicted to win its third straight A-10 crown followed by Saint Joseph's second, the Dukes third, La Salle fourth and George Washington fifth.

Duquesne welcomes back four of its five scorers from the 2017 A-10 Championship including senior Cordon Louco (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) who placed 22nd at the meet, as well as juniors Jeff Van Kooten (Sewickley, Pa./Central Catholic) (29th) Jake Heinauer (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) (39th) and Zack Weland (Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) (48th). Also returning is Christian Kazanjian (Media, Pa./Penncrest) who finished fifth at the 2016 A-10 Championship. Louco added an eighth-place mark that season, helping the Dukes to a second-place finish.

Duquesne will look to earn its first conference title since 2005 at the 2018 A-10 Championship on Saturday, Oct. 27 in Mechanicsburg, Va. The Dukes begin the 2018 season this Saturday, Sept. 1 hosting the Duquesne Duals at 9 a.m. at the Schenley Oval.
 

2018 A-10 Men's Cross County Predicted Order of Finish
1. Dayton
2. Saint Joseph's
3. Duquesne
4. La Salle
5. George Washington
6. Massachusetts
7. George Mason
8. Saint Louis
9. Davidson
10. Fordham
11. Richmond
12. Rhode Island
13. VCU
14. St. Bonaventure