GLIAC -- The Grand Valley State women's and men's cross country teams are the favorites to claim the conference crowns in 2022, according to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Preseason Polls, which were released on Tuesday. 

The GVSU women, runners-up at the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships, garnered nine first-place votes and a league-leading 81 points. Saginaw Valley State was ranked second with 69 points. Wayne State finished third with 67 points and earned the lone remaining first place vote. 

Michigan Tech was slotted in fourth place in the poll, receiving 52 points, followed by Northern Michigan (49), Parkside (40), Ferris State (35), Davenport (23), Purdue Northwest (19) and Lake Superior State (9).

In the USTFCCA Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll, Grand Valley State was ranked No. 2 while Saginaw Valley State was No. 8 and Wayne State was No. 24. 

Defending GLIAC and national champion Grand Valley State topped the men's poll with 64 total points and eight first-place votes. Wayne State was voted second with 54 points and was awarded the remaining first place vote. The Warriors were closely followed by Michigan Tech, which totaled 53 points. 

Saginaw Valley State (4th, 43 points), Parkside (5th, 33 points), Ferris State (6th, 30 points), Purdue Northwest (7th, 21 points), Davenport (8th, 14 points) and Lake Superior State (9th, 12 points) rounded out the men's 2022 preseason poll.

Nationally, in the USTFCCA Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll, Grand Valley State was selected No. 3, while Michigan Tech was No. 16, Wayne State was No. 17. and Saginaw Valley State was No. 27.