UNC Pembroke Picked to win Women’s Cross Country Title in Preseason Coaches’ Poll
GREENVILLE, S.C. – UNC Pembroke topped the 2021 Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the conference office announced.
The poll was officially unveiled on Aug. 26, 2021. The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s head coaches.
One of two new members in 2021 along with Francis Marion, the Braves garnered 136 points and eight first-place votes. Emmanuel, the defending champion, was picked second with 129 points and two first-place votes while King rounded out the top three with 120 points and two first-place tallies.
Southern Wesleyan captured the remaining first-place vote and 101 points to sit fourth followed by Converse (93), North Greenville (91), Mount Olive (89), Erskine (70), Belmont Abbey (52), Lees-McRae (49), Francis Marion (34), Barton (29) and Chowan (21).
Teams begin competition on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 and will have two months before the 2021 Conference Carolinas Championship on Saturday, Oct. 23 hosted by Mount Olive in Mount Olive, North Carolina.
2021 Conference Carolinas
Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
| School |
Total (First Place) |
| UNC Pembroke |
136 (8) |
| Emmanuel |
129 (2) |
| King |
120 (2) |
| Southern Wesleyan |
101 (1) |
| Converse |
93 |
| North Greenville |
91 |
| Mount Olive |
89 |
| Erskine |
70 |
| Belmont Abbey |
52 |
| Lees-McRae |
49 |
| Francis Marion |
34 |
| Barton |
29 |
| Chowan |
21 |
2021 Conference Carolinas Women's Cross Country
Players to Watch
Belmont Abbey
- Sydney Keller, Fr., Baker City, Oregon
- Meghan Little, So., Charlotte, North Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
- Makenna Pallozzi, So., Belmont, North Carolina
Chowan
- Elizabeth Stokes, Sr., Mathews, Virginia
Converse
- Bayley Robinson, So., Simpsonville, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
- Caroline Felkel, Sr., Campobello, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
- Piper Grant, Jr., Rock Hill, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
Emmanuel
- Sarah Green, Jr., Cochran, Georgia (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team)
- Ashley Ledgerwood, Jr., Jefferson, Georgia (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
- Riley Triplett, Fr., Calhoun, Georgia
Erskine
- Hanna Johnson, Fr., Hanahan, South Carolina
- Lizzie Naval, Jr., Summerville, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team and Conference Champion, 2019 All-Conference Carolinas First Team)
- Gracie Woods, Fr., Carnesville, Georgia
Francis Marion
- Annalena Griffin, So., Taylors, South Carolina
- Sarah Harris, Sr., Timmonsville, South Carolina
- Molly Moss, So., Sumter, South Carolina
King
- Meg Davis, Sr., Kingsport, Tennessee (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team)
- Katy Neubert, Jr., Johnson City, Tennessee (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team, 2019 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
- Chloe Wade, Fr., Sevierville, Tennessee
Lees-McRae
- Deanna Betzer, Jr., New Columbia, Pennsylvania (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team, 2019 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
- Paiden Dula, Jr., Hickory, North Carolina
- Ashleigh Vilga, Fr., Rolesville, North Carolina
North Greenville
- Kylie Futrell, Fr., Hanahan, South Carolina
- Madeline Merrell, So., Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Grace Valentine, Jr., Campobello, South Carolina
Southern Wesleyan
- Abbey Frock, So., Liberty, South Carolina
- Madison Lewellen, Sr., Bluffton, South Carolina (2019 All-Conference Second Team, 2018 All-Conference Third Team)
- Macey Morgan, So., Simpsonville, South Carolina
UNC Pembroke
- Kathryn Anderson, Sr., Clemmons, N.C. (2020-21 All-Peach Belt Conference)
- Erman Jepleting, R-Sr., Eldoret, Kenya (2020-21 All-Peach Belt Conference & USTFCCCA All-Region)
- Valary Samoei, R-So., Eldoret, Kenya (2020-21 All-Peach Belt Conference)