W&L Sits Second, LC and EMU Tight for Third

FOREST, Va. --- Bridgewater College tops the 2014 ODAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll as the Eagles collected 10 first place votes towards 100 total points from the league’s head coaches.  Washington and Lee University sits second with 87 tallies, including the remaining top consideration.  Lynchburg College and Eastern Mennonite University are separated by just one point (78-to-77) for third position.

At the 2013 ODAC Championships, Bridgewater ran away with a 38-point victory over Lynchburg (50-to-88) at The Manor in Farmville, Va.  The Eagles’ five scoring runners placed inside the top-14, all earning All-ODAC status.  Bridgewater’s success continued at the South/Southeast Regional Championships with BC claiming the team title over Emory University (74-to-91) and punching a ticket to the NCAA Division III Championships.

Four individuals also qualified for the national meet, including a trio from Guilford College.  Chad Norton placed third overall, followed by 2013 ODAC Runner of the Year, Andris Goncarovs, in fifth.  Fellow Quaker David Cason finished seventh.  Shenandoah University’s Ryan Taylor chimed in sixth to earn his spot in Hanover, Ind.  Norton proved to be the top ODAC finisher, placing 26th overall among the 275 runners.  Bridgewater ranked 31st as a team.

Bridgewater returns four of its all-conference performers from last season, including All-ODAC First Team selection Luke Sohl (3rd at the ODAC Championships in 26:22.80).  Matt Denlinger (10th - 27:18.40), Keith Thomas (11th - 27:22.60) and Tim Miller (14th - 27:43.10) all earned All-ODAC Second Team accolades.  The Eagles are further bolstered by top-25 runners Nevin Heckman (19th - 28:04.70) and Wyatt Campbell (22nd - 28:12.60).

Washington and Lee features reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year, Mac Strehler (26:45.10), who placed fifth at the ODAC Championships to qualify as the highest ranking first-year runner.  Levi Warring (21st - 29:09.90) and Phillip Harmon (25th - 28:51.20) look poised to make a run at all-conference status in 2014, while Chris Cardon (30th - 29:15.30) and Mark Gensburg (50th - 30:25.30) also put in strong showings in Farmville.

Lynchburg welcomes one all-conference runners in Anthony McBride, who placed seventh (26:45.40) at last year's championships.  Drew Smith (27th - 29:00.80) and Ben Stern (31st - 29:15.40) add depth to the roster, but the Hornets will be looking to new runners to step up in 2014 following the graduation of some strong competitors from a season ago.

Second team standout Ryan Gehman (8th - 26:50.80) leads a strong Eastern Mennonite squad into the 2014 season.  Jacob Landis (16th - 27:53.90) and Alec Thibodeaux (20th - 28:08.50) were within striking distance of all-conference qualification, while Jared Nisly (26th - 28:52.90) and Jonathan Nisly (32nd - 29:24.80) look to make a push into the upper tier this season.

Roanoke College and Virginia Wesleyan College welcome back experienced corps.  The Maroons are led by second team runner Harrison Toney (9th - 26:57.00).  He’s joined by John Wiggins (40th - 29:54.00) and Cody Meadows (51st - 30:28.20).  Trevor Maloney (29th - 29:11.30) leads the list of Marlin returners.  Andrew Werner (42nd - 29:59.90) and Matt Cooke (47th - 30:19.50) finished inside the top-50 at The Manor.

Shenandoah University and Emory & Henry College will look to combination of youth and experience.  Matthew Gussiaas (68th - 31:36.70), David Johnson (84th - 33:38.50) and Donald Shubrooks (91st - 36:29.40) lead the way for the new crop of runners in Winchester, while Kevin Watts (39th - 29:53.50), Alex Cooper (41st - 29:59.20) and Nathan Fishell (57th - 30:49.20) do the same at E&H.

Guilford, Hampden-Sydney College and Randolph College all feature experienced contributors.  After graduating three first team runners, the Quakers look to rebuild the squad with returning runners Nick Reynolds (52nd - 30:29.60), Quint Simones (88th - 34:07.40) and Jonathan Sumner (95th - 37:17.50) leading the charge.  H-SC, fresh off a successful role as host of the 2013 ODAC Championships, looks to Grant Brown (33rd - 29:26.00) and William Imeson (65th - 31:21.50) to forge a path in 2014.  The WildCats’ list of returnees includes top ODAC finishers Chris Hollingsworth (37th - 29:43.80), Connor Dye (86th - 33.50.70) and Donald Saltmarsh-Lubin (87th - 33:56.90).

The 2014 season begins on August 29 with non-conference competition.  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 @odacathletics on Twitter.

2014 ODAC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes