Lions selected ninth in SAC preseason poll
The Mars Hill University women's cross country team was selected ninth in the 2019 South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, as released by the league Thursday afternoon.
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com)– Queens is selected as the favorite to win the 2019 South Atlantic Conference Women's Cross Country title, according to the leagues head cross country coaches. The Royals gathered 11 of the first-place votes and 132 points overall.
Taking the 2018 SAC title, the Royals won their third consecutive cross country championship. The winning streak continued when they dominated the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championships, earning a spot in the NCAA Division II National Championship meet. Ranked No. 24 heading into the meet, the Royals were able to clinch their third top-10 finish.
Anderson grabs the No. 2 spot on this year's poll, collecting a total of 113 points. The Trojans finished second in last year's SAC Championship and finished third in the NCAA Southeast Regional. Their finish at the regionals secured their second consecutive bid to the NCAA National Championship, where they placed 33rdoverall.
Lenoir-Rhyne takes the No. 3 spot totaling 107 points, they found themselves ranked No. 10 in the Southeast Regional poll for the first time in school history in 2018. Following behind them sitting at No. 4 is Wingate, claiming the last first-place vote and 97 total points.
Catawba claims No. 5 spot with 94 total points, with Carson-Newman right behind them in spot No. 6 at 93 points overall.
Tusculum holds onto the No. 7 spot with 77 points, as No. 8 Lincoln-Memorialtallies 63 points. Mars Hill is charted at No. 9 totaling 48 points.
Newberry earns 40 points at the No. 10 spot, while Coker and newly added UVa-Wise sit at No.11 and 12, respectively. With Coker landing 33 points and UVa-Wise picking up 27.
The 2019 season looks to be another exciting one as 12 all-conference runners from the 2018 SAC championship will return from their respected teams. One of them being Nicole McMillen of Tusculum, who placed 59thin the 2018 NCAA National Division II National Championship.
The 2019 SAC Women's Cross Country season will kick off Friday, September 6th, with three SAC teams kicking off and the remaining nine starting shortly after.
2019 Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. |
Queens (11) |
132 |
|
2. |
Anderson |
113 |
|
3. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
107 |
|
4. |
Wingate (1) |
97 |
|
5. |
Catawba |
94 |
|
6. |
Carson-Newman |
93 |
|
7. |
Tusculum |
77 |
|
8. |
Lincoln Memorial |
63 |
|
9. |
Mars Hill |
48 |
|
10. |
Newberry |
40 |
|
11. |
Coker |
33 |
|
12. |
UVa-Wise |
27 |