NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The University of Dayton men’s cross country team is picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 this season as determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

UD senior Chris Lemon will defend his individual title when the Flyers compete at the A-10 Men's Cross Country Championship Oct. 30 at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dayton achieved its best-ever finish in 29 years of competition with a third-place result at the 2009 Championship. The Flyers were just three points behind the runners-up Massachusetts. UD returns Lemon, the Most Outstanding Performer of the Meet, twin brother Matt Lemon, an all-conference performer who finished ninth at the A-10s, and sophomore Greg Roeth, the 2009 Most Outstanding Rookie.

“This poll is a reflection that the level of competition in the Atlantic 10 is becoming more challenging year after year,” said UD head coach Rich Davis. “In 2010, we look to be an improved team by scoring fewer than the 70 points that we scored last year at the A-10 Championships.”

La Salle has been chosen to win the 2010 A-10 Men's Cross Country Championship. The Minutemen were voted to once again finish in second place.

Richmond is projected to finish third after last year's eighth-place finish, and is followed by Saint Joseph's, Dayton, Duquesne, Temple, Charlotte, Xavier, Fordham, Saint Louis, George Washington, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.

Dayton kicks off the 2010 season at the team's only home meet of the year, the Meijer Flyer 5k, on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Indian Riffle Park in Kettering, Ohio.

2010 Predicted Order of Finish (2009 A-10 finish in parentheses)
1. La Salle (4)
2. Massachusetts (2)
3. Richmond (8)
4. Saint Joseph's (1)
5. Dayton (3)
6. Duquesne (6)
7. Temple (5)
8. Charlotte (7)
9. Xavier (9)
10. Fordham (12)
11. Saint Louis (11)
12. George Washington (10)
13. Rhode Island (13)
14. St. Bonaventure (14)