LANCASTER, Pa. - The tradition of excellence established by the Haverford College men's cross country team looks to continue this season as the Centennial Conference head coaches voted the Fords into the top spot in the 2012 preseason men's cross country poll as released by the conference office Wednesday morning.

The defending champion Fords garnered 64 points and all eight possible first-place votes in the poll as teams are not permitted to vote for themselves. Meriting the remaining first-place vote and 56 total points was 2011 runner-up Dickinson College. Johns Hopkins University finished third with 50 points.

Haverford won both the Centennial and Mideast Region titles in 2011 before claiming the runner-up trophy at the NCAA national championship meet.