King University Women’s Cross Country Team Ranked First in Preseason Coaches Poll

King University Women’s Cross Country Team Ranked First in Preseason Coaches Poll

Bookmark and Share

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The back-to-back Conference Carolinas champions, King University is the preseason favorite to take their third straight crown in 2014. However, head coach Peter Dalton will have to face a challenge he hasn't had to each of the past two years as the Tornado don't have any returners for the 2014 campaign.

After winning the conference title a season ago, the Tornado finished sixth at the NCAA Southeast Regional, with senior Hannah Witt taking the individual title at both the conference and regional meets. However, the Tornado have to replace her as well as three other seniors. In 2014, Dalton will rely on a talented group of nine freshmen to earn their third straight league title. King opens the season at Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, South Carolina on September 5.

 

Second in the poll is the University of Mount Olive, who returns two All-Conference Carolinas runners from last year’s Conference Carolinas runner-up. Bailee Henry was last year’s Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year and earned All-Conference second team honors. Emily Shaw was named to last year’s All-Conference third team.

 

The Trojans have finished second in the conference championship in each of the last two years, marking the best-ever finish in school history. Mount Olive was ranked as high as No. 5 in the USTFCCCA Division II Southeast Region Top 10 and finished 12th at last year’s NCAA II Southeast Regional

 

Barton College completes the top three in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs won two events in 2013 and the team posted four top-three finishes in six events. Eight runners from that squad return this season, including six consistent scorers. The Lady Bulldogs will be led by senior Angelica Del Real, who was Barton’s top finisher in event meet last season and an All-Conference selection.

 

The preseason polls are completed with, North Greenville finishing fourth followed by Belmont Abbey, Converse, Pfeiffer, Erskine, Limestone and Lees-McRae respectively.

 
 
 

Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
(# of First Place Votes in Parenthesis) 

 

King

85

(6)

Mount Olive

84

(3)

Barton

70

(0)

North Greenville

68

(1)

Belmont Abbey

57

  

Converse 

50

  

Pfeiffer

43

  

Erskine

34

  

Limestone

30

  

Lees-McRae

19