NEWTOWN, Pa. - Widener Men's Cross Country earned a seventh place finish in the MAC Championship pre-championship poll with 187 points, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday (Oct. 28).

The Pride snagged 187 points to place seventh this year. Lebanon Valley took the top spot with 287 points and 16 of the 18 first place votes. Messiah took second with 271 and the remaining two first place votes while DeSales placed third with 251 points. Above the Pride is York with 193 points and newcomer Marywood sits six points under with 181 points.

Sophomore David Abbey takes a step up this season as one of the Pride's top contenders after his 21:36.0 personal best 4-mile at the Main Line Invitational in mid-September. Abbey would see his second race a month later at the Border Battle in Glassboro, N.J. with a 27:39.6. Ethan Ng looks to continue his season successes after his personal best 22:19.1 4-mile and a 29:22.0 8k at Border Battle. The Pride's third contender shows junior Daniel Murphy after his 29:49.2 in the 8k at the Border Battle two weeks ago. 

This year's championships are set to be hosted by Stevenson in Owings Mills, Md. for the second time in the championship's history. The men's race is set to commence at noon after the women's showdown on Saturday, October 31.