Eagles Receiving Nine First Place Votes, EMU with One

FOREST, Va. --- Bridgewater College picked up nine first place votes and 81 total points on the way to leading the 2014 ODAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll. The Eagles are followed by Eastern Mennonite University, which collected the remaining top nod and 70 total tallies. Washington and Lee University holds down the third position with 65 points, while Lynchburg College is fourth with 55 markers in the annual survey of the league’s head coaches.

At the 2013 ODAC Cross Country Championships, Bridgewater saw all five of its scoring runners place ninth or better, leading the Eagles to just their second overall league crown. The last time BC captured the ODAC championship was in 2011. BC completed the meet with 22 points, with the top-three finishers wearing Eagles’ colors. Kaylee Kubisiak was the individual champion after posting a time of 23:36.80 over the six-kilometer course at Manor Golf Course in Farmville, Va.

Kubisiak was one of three women’s runners from ODAC schools to compete at the 2013 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in Hanover, Ind. and she finished in 22:57.40 for a 154th place finish. EMU sent Hannah Chappell-Dick, who finished the course in 23:35.20, placing 221st. EMU had not had a runner compete at the national event since 2002. W&L’s Annelise Madison also ran in Hanover and finished in 143rd place in a time of 22:53.50 in her final collegiate cross country race.

Eleven of the 14 runners that earned All-ODAC recognition return for the 2014 campaign and Kubisiak, the 2013 ODAC Runner of the Year, spearheads the returners for Bridgewater after her first place finish at last year’s ODAC Championship. Joining Kubisiak are All-ODAC First Team runners Makenzie McDonald, who placed third in a time of 23:58.50, Zanny Ludtke (7th - 24:36.40).  Lauren Johnson (9th - 24:58.40) earned All-ODAC Second Team laurels. Lizzy Styles (18th - 25:52.90) and Emily Mellman (19th - 25:57.40) were within striking distance of all-conference honors last season and look to make that jump in 2014.

Eastern Mennonite returns four All-ODAC harriers, led by Chappell-Dick, who crossed the finish line in 24:02.60 for a fourth place nod at the 2013 ODAC Cross Country Championship. Lanae Kreider (8th - 24:39.90), Katie Eckman (11th - 25:07.80) and Jolee Paden (14th - 25:11.70) return after earning second team honors for their efforts.  Juni Schirch (21st - 26:02.80) is also back and is looking to better her times from a year ago.

Washington and Lee will be under new direction this year as Michael Dager took over the coaching ranks in July. Dager welcomes back several runners who are ready to make an impact this year, including first-teamer Casey Mackintosh, who finished sixth in a time of 24:22.40 last season. Other Generals hoping to climb the ladder this year are Rachel Soloman (20th - 26:00.90), Liz Spruill (32nd - 26:46.10), Kathryn McCreary (34th - 26:51.80) and Alana Babington (36th - 26:56.00).

Lynchburg looks to Mary Deis (16th - 25:37.40) to crack the top-14 after just missing all-conference status in 2013. Deis will be joined by Lindsey Crill (22nd - 26:11.20), Lauren Lacourciere (33rd - 26:46.20) and Adrian Walker (37th - 27:02.00) as top returners.

Roanoke College and Virginia Wesleyan College were separated by just seven points at the ODAC Championships and the two schools are now separated by just six tallies in this year’s preseason poll.  The Maroons welcome back 2013 ODAC Rookie of the Year Kerri Dalton (15th - 25:36.60), who just narrowly missed out on an All-ODAC nod last year. Other notable RC harriers include Claire Brooks (26th - 26:19.60) and Melissa Bauerle (28th - 26:29.70), as well as the addition of ODAC steeplechase championship Caity Ashley from the Maroons track squad. The Marlins turn to all-conference runner Liz Wade (13th - 25:09.00) to pace VWC this season.  Also back for Virginia Wesleyan are Lex Higbee (30th - 26:43.20) and Emily Latimer (39th - 27:11.90), who were top-30 finishers in 2013.

Shenandoah University, Guilford College, Randolph College and Emory & Henry College look for a mix of veterans and newcomers to help them climb the conference ladder. SU turns to second team standout Dorothy Earner (12th - 25:08.50) to lead the charge for the Hornets. Teammates Nicole Legare (42nd - 27:28.10), Shelby Shrader (45th - 27:48.20) and Rachel Coffin (47th - 27:58.30) also return.  The Quakers return Rebecca Reyna (29th - 26:37.00), Pasangi Perera (43rd - 27:29.20) and Naomi Madaras (44th - 27:30.00), while the WildCats welcome back Sarah Reed (31st - 26:44.60) and Dani Hill (51st - 28:19.50) to lead Randolph.  Elizabeth Wilson (48th - 28:02.20) and Natalie Foley (64th - 29:46.40) will guide the Wasps in 2014.

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 WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes