Both Florida cross country squads garnered first-place votes in the 2012 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the conference office Thursday, as the UF men’s team was predicted to finish second in the league, while the Gator women’s squad was predicted to finish third in the conference by vote of the league’s head coaches.

Points for the men's poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 basis while the women's poll was awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13 basis. Coaches could not vote for their own teams. The 2012 season marks the first in SEC competition for both Missouri and Texas A&M.

On the men’s side, Florida was predicted to finish second in the coaches poll, earning one first-place vote behind predicted winner Arkansas (9), while SEC newcomer Texas A&M was predicted to place third, grabbing three first-place votes.

In the women’s poll, the Gators checked in third with three first-place votes, as defending SEC Champion Vanderbilt (8) was predicted to lead the final standings, while Arkansas was predicted to finish second in the women’s coaches poll, also garnering three first-place votes.

The Orange and Blue boast eight SEC Championships combined, including five on the women’s side (1984, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2010) and three in men’s cross country action (1955, 1986, 1987).

The Florida distance crew and cross country squads will be under the leadership of first-year assistant track and cross country coach Paul Spangler as the kickoff to the 2012 campaign begins August 31 at the Western Carolina Invitational in Cullowhee, N.C. The Gators will then play host to the 24th Annual Mountain Dew Invitational September 15 at UF’s Mark Bostick Golf Course.

After finishing third at the 2011 SEC Championships on the women’s side, the Gators will look to add a sixth SEC title this season after most recently claiming both the 2009 and 2010 league championships. Florida’s men rallied for a second-place finish at the 2011 SEC Championship race in Maryville, Tenn., marking its highest finish since 2007.

The Orange and Blue will shoot for a fourth league title this fall for what would be the men’s program’s first in 25 years.

The 2011 men’s team went on to secure an automatic qualifying bid for the NCAA Championship with a second-place finish at the NCAA South Region Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala., while three women’s squad members picked up individual at-large bids to Nationals.

The 2012 SEC Cross Country Championships are slated to take place Friday, Oct. 26 at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tenn.

MEN’S Predicted Order of Finish

1.             Arkansas (9)         15

2.             Florida (1)             28

3.             Texas A&M (3)     31

4.             Georgia                 44

5.             Kentucky               65

6.             Missouri                 70

7.             Alabama               84

8.             Tennessee            87

9.             Ole Miss                100

10.          Auburn                   103

11.          Mississippi State 112

12.          LSU                        131

13.          Vanderbilt             144

WOMEN’S Predicted Order of Finish

1.             Vanderbilt (8)      21

2.             Arkansas (3)         27

3.             Florida (3)             33

4.             Texas A&M           54

5.             Georgia                 68

6.             Missouri                 71

7.             Ole Miss                93

8.             Alabama               97

9.             Tennessee            107

10.          Kentucky               123

11.          Mississippi State 126

12.          Auburn                   132

13.          South Carolina     158

14.          LSU                        164