The Wayland Baptist Pioneer men's and women's cross country teams both made it into the 2008 NAIA Cross Country Preseason Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday. The Pioneer women are tied at #5 with 316 points, while the men received 165 total points to put them at #18.

WBU's women return four runners off last year's team which finished sixth at the NAIA Cross Country Championships. Included in that number are sophomore All-American Caroline Karunde and All-Region VI honorees Erin Britton and Kydia Echols, both seniors. Among the newcomers to Coach Brian Whitlock's team this year is 2008 Track and Field All-American Purity Biwott.

On the men's side, the Pioneers, which received 13 points in last year's final NAIA poll, boast a bevy of talented newcomers to join last year's group of six returnees, led by senior national qualifier Timmy McCune.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. The ratings included those ballots submitted by these selected raters. The first regular season Top 25 poll will be announced on Sept. 9.