PORTLAND, Ore. - The Alaska Anchorage men's and women's cross country running teams are the unanimous favorites to win the Great Northwest Athletic Conference titles this fall, according to the league's head coaches Wednesday.

Both squads received a perfect ranking of 1.00 in the GNAC Coaches pre-season polls. The UAA women's team is predicted to capture its fourth straight team title, while the men are in pursuit of their third straight and sixth GNAC title overall.

The Seawolves are expected to be challenged by the Western Washington Vikings on both sides, as well as NCAA newcomer Simon Fraser on the women's side.

UAA is led by defending champion and All-American Micah Chelimo on the men's side, while All-American's Miriam Kipng'eno and Ivy O'Guinn lead the Seawolf women. The Seawolves also return 2008 All-American in Jake Parisien.

Great Northwest Coaches Poll               

     MEN                        Avg. Rank 

     1.   Alaska Anchorage           1.00

     2.   Western Washington         2.00

     3.   Western Oregon             3.13

     4.   Seattle Pacific            4.00

     5.   Northwest Nazarene         4.50

     6.   Simon Fraser               5.88

     7.   Alaska Fairbanks           7.00

     8.   Saint Martin's             7.25

     9.   Central Washington         7.50

     10.  Montana State Billings     8.13

     WOMEN                      Avg. Rank 

     1.   Alaska Anchorage           1.00

     2.   Western Washington         2.63

          Simon Fraser               2.63

     4.   Seattle Pacific            3.63

     5.   Alaska Fairbanks           5.00

     6.   Northwest Nazarene         5.50

     7.   Western Oregon             6.63

     8.   Montana State Billings     7.38

     9.   Saint Martin's             7.88

     10.  Central Washington         8.25

 (Note: Each coach ranked nine other teams.  Average rank is determined by totaling the ranks and dividing by the number of coaches who participated in poll).