MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Southern women’s cross country team was predicted to finish third by the Sunshine State Conference cross country coaches with the release of the 2022 SSC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Moccasins have finished third at the SSC Championships for three-straight seasons and return four of the top five individual finishers for last year’s team.

The Mocs top finisher from last season, Ellie Fluman, returns after a top-10 showing last season. She will be joined by sophomore Marisa Kortright, a Fleming Island High School graduate, who finished in the top-15 as a freshman. The other point scorers from last year’s third place finishing team are sophomore Emma Mussante, a Middleburg High School standout, and junior Jinia Johnson. Junior Emery Roth and sophomore Julia Svartstrom both finished just outside the top five for the Mocs but could make impacts in 2022.

Tampa, who was just edged at the 2021 SSC Championships by Saint Leo, enters 2022 as the preseason favorite after receiving four of the seven first place votes. The defending champion Lions were picked second with three first place votes and finishing two points behind the Spartans, the same margin as the 2021 SSC Championship split between the Lions and Spartans. Florida Southern rounded out the top three followed by Palm Beach Atlantic, Lynn, Embry-Riddle and Nova Southeastern.

The Mocs will open up the 2022 season Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Eastern Florida State College Fall Classic.