Maroons and Generals Both Receive Four Top Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Roanoke College picked up four first place votes and 59 total points as the Maroons were chosen atop the 2013-14 ODAC Women's Indoor Track Coaches' Poll.  Washington and Lee University also received four top considerations on the way to 56 tallies to slot second.  Bridgewater College and Lynchburg College tied for third with 49 points, while the Hornets garnered the remaining first place nod in the annual survey of the league's head coaches.

The 2013 ODAC Indoor Championships featured ample amounts of drama with the title not decided until the meet's final event.  Roanoke's 4x400-meter relay team of Carmen Graves, Alexis Janney, Alease Kinney and Jessica Mejia sprinted their way to a winning time of 3:59.58.  That victory pushed RC's point total to 130, just two points clear of second place Washington and Lee.

Roanoke has won nine overall ODAC women's indoor track titles, including the past two meets and six of the last eight conference crowns.  A three-peat bid will have to come without multi-All-American Graves for the first time in four years, but reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, Finn Pincus, welcomes back plenty of talent to help the Maroons make good on their No. 1 billing.  Roanoke looks especially strong in the sprints, with ODAC championship record-setter Esther Prempeh leading the charge.  She set a new standard in winning the 60-meter dash (7.93) at the 2013 championships.  Janney, who finished third in the 60-dash (7.99), claimed a win in the 200-meter dash (26.11) and was a part of a 1-3-4 showing for Roanoke in the 400-meter dash (1:00.67), placing fourth.  Kinney won that event (58.73) in addition to the 200-meter dash (26.11) title.  Mejia placed second in the 200-dash (26.55) and third in the 400-dash (1:00.24).

Washington and Lee features standouts throughout its squad for new head coach Dana Freeman.  Annelise Madison put together a strong performance in the mid-to-long distance runs, finishing second in the mile (5:15.11) and third in the 800-meter (2:23.06) and 3,000-meter (10:47.68) runs.  Jillian Katterhagen and Alexandra Hagan went 1-2 in the pole vault with clearing heights of 3.20 meters (10' 6.0") and 2.95 meters (9' 8.0") respectively.  Maggie Kleber and Leigh Dannhauser also had success in the jumps as one of six competitors to clear 1.56 meters (5' 1.25").  Janey Fugate placed second in the 400-meter dash (59.48) and third in the 60-meter dash (9.47).  She was also a member of the second place 4x400-meter relay team (4:07.86) that also featured Sarah Helms, Johanna Goergen and Lauren Woodie.  Helms and Goergen are two returning members of the Generals' first place distance medley relay team (12:58.54).

Bridgewater proved strong in both the vertical and horizontal jumps in 2013.  Kristen Trice returns after an ODAC Rookie of the Year showing that saw her tabbed the conference champion in the high jump (1.56m; 5' 1.25") and the triple jump (11.10m; 36' 5.0").  Melanie Waters won the long jump (5.17m; 5' 1.25") and finished third in the triple jump (10.97m; 36' 0"), while Brittany Kersey joined the group that cleared 1.56 meters (5' 1.25") in the high jump.  Stephanie Breen and Makenzie McDonald return to the Eagles' distance medley relay squad that placed second (13:07.14).

Lynchburg, like Roanoke, has won nine overall ODAC women's indoor track crowns, tying with the Maroons for best in conference history.  The Hornets are led by sprinter Aleshia Washington, who finished second in the 60-meter dash (7.97) and third in the 200-meter dash (26.75).  LC was strong in the weight throw with Ashley Thomas (14.16m; 46' 5.5"), Kim Alfaro (13.96m; 45' 9.75") and Britney Gulick (13.76m; 45' 1.75") returning to the Hill City after placing second thru fourth.

Eastern Mennonite University and Virginia Wesleyan College feature the return of several strong athletes.  The Royals are led by Hannah Chappell-Dick, who placed second in the 800-meter run (2:19.75) and fourth in the mile (5:16.86).  EMU's distance medley relay team of Saralyn Mast, Chafin Brumfield, Juni Schirch and the departed Hanna Clemmer stopped the watches in third (13:47.43).  The Marlins welcome back ODAC 60-meter hurdles champion (9.34) Courtney Mebane, who also was awarded third place in the high jump (1.56m; 5' 1.25").  She and fellow returnee Molly Keenhold were accompanied by Shakiella Daniel and Tiana Hughes in posting the third place time (4:12.77) in the 4x400-meter relay.

Shenandoah University and Guilford College welcome back top performers from a season ago.  The Hornets' Jaclyn Mohlmann joined the group that cleared 1.56 meters (5' 1.25") in the high jump, earning her fifth place in the event.  Dorothy Earner placed eighth in the 5,000-meter run (19:18.17).  Rebecca Reyna was the highest-finishing Quaker at the 2013 championships, registering an eighth place finish in the mile (5:52.01).

New to the ODAC's track and field ranks in 2013-14 is Randolph College.  Head coach Bill Cooper has spent the past year-plus building a foundation for the WildCats track program.  Randolph's ninth and newest women's sport begins competition on January 31.

Listed below is the full 2013-14 ODAC Women's Track Coaches Poll.  For more information, visit any of the participating schools’ websites, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow the ODAC on Twitter at @odacathletics.  In addition, check out the ODAC's YouTube channel.

2013-14 ODAC WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK COACHES POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes