Eagles Earn Nine First Place Votes, Remaining Two to W&L
FOREST, Va. --- Two-time defending ODAC champion Bridgewater College received nine first place votes on the way to 99 total points to lead the 2015 ODAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll. Washington and Lee University picked up the remaining two top nods from the league's head coaches, securing 91 tallies. Eastern Mennonite University and Roanoke College are separated by just four points (76-72) for third.
Last season, Bridgewater blistered the field at the 2014 ODAC Championships, hosted by Guilford College. Three Eagles picked up All-ODAC First Team honors, finishing in the top-seven, but it was the overall depth that captured the crown for BC with seven total runners stopping the watches in the top-13 to earn All-ODAC status. BC's strong showing didn't keep Washington and Lee from enjoying considerable success, owning three times inside the top-nine including individual champion Ian McDonald.
ODAC runners went on to impress at the South/Southeast Regional event, where EMU's Ryan Gehman and Roanoke's Harrison Toney finished first and second, respectively, and Bridgewater took home runner-up honors in the team standings. Those performances, joined by seventh and 14th-place finishes by W&L's Levi Warring and EMU's Jacob Landis, earned spots at the NCAA Division III Championships. Toney proved the ODAC's highest individual finisher against the nation's best in Mason, Ohio, placing 129th overall. Bridgewater's team chimed in 32nd.
Entering the new campaign, nine runners are back from the 14 that earned All-ODAC laurels. That list includes 2014 individual champion McDonald, as well as top NCAA finisher Toney from the first team. Four of Bridgewater's seven All-ODAC competitors return, including first team honoree Matt Denlinger.
The 2015 season begins with a series of events on Tuesday, September 1. The ODAC Preview will be hosted by eventual conference championship-host Bridgewater on Friday, September 11.
Listed below is the complete 2015 ODAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC men's cross country programs. For more information on ODAC men's cross country, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, 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.
2015 ODAC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL | |
(#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
1. Bridgewater College (9) | 99 pts. |
2. Washington and Lee University (2) | 91 pts. |
3. Eastern Mennonite University | 76 pts. |
4. Roanoke College | 72 pts. |
5. Lynchburg College | 63 pts. |
6. Emory & Henry College | 53 pts. |
7. Virginia Wesleyan College | 48 pts. |
8. Shenandoah University | 46 pts. |
9. Guilford College | 26 pts. |
10. Randolph College | 18 pts. |
11. Hampden-Sydney College | 13 pts. |
2015 Poll Position: 1st Head Coach: Brian Flynn 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 1st (37 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Luke Sohl - 26:48.8 (5th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 2nd (65 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Luke Sohl - 25:40.28 (5th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: Team - 32nd (737 pts.); Top Individual: Trey Gibson - 25:42.6 (166th) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: Matt Delinger Second Team: Trey Gibson, Aaron Hill, Connor Maguder Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Aaron Hill - 25:09.45 (NCAA Pre-Nationals Invite.) Eagles' Outlook: BC features a veteran group that includes four All-ODAC runners. Matt Denlinger, Trey Gibson, Aaron Hill and Connor Maguder will be relied on to lead the way as the Eagles look for new runners to step into roles previously held by by a trio of all-conference seniors that including program anchor Luke Sohl. Still, Bridgewater will be hard to displace from the top of the team rankings after its top seven runners finished 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, and 13th. |
2015 Poll Position: 10th Head Coach: Bill Cooper 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 11th (308 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Chris Hollingsworth - 29:43.5 (48th) 2014 Regionals Finish: Did Not Compete 2014 Regionals Top Time: N/A 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Mathieu Meyer - 29:33.90 (Hagan-Stone Cl.) WildCats' Outlook: Randolph will continue its youth movement following the graduation of several key seniors, including top-time holder Chris Hollingsworth. Matthieu Meyer owns the best 8K time entering the season. Senior leadership will come from Donald Saltmarsh, you finished 78th at the 2014 ODAC Championships. |
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2015 Poll Position: 3rd Head Coach: Britten Olinger 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 2nd (63 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Ryan Gehman - 26:28.7 (3rd) 2014 Regionals Finish: 5th (170 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Ryan Gehman - 25:32.36 (1st) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: Jacob Landis - 26:03.6 (216th), Ryan Gehman - 26:15.8 (237th) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: Alec Thibodeaux Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Alec Thibodeaux - 25:35.90 (NCAA Pre-Nationals Invite.) Royals' Outlook: This will be a veteran group of Royals that will look to run as a pack. Expect Alec Thibodeaux to step in and fill the top spot following the graduation of regional champion Ryan Gehman. Runners like Jordan Lehman and Jonathan Nisly are good runners and will be a consistent driving force in EMU's top-five. The Royal's success will be predicated on how well numbers two and five run. Riding the excitement of last year's runner-up finish, expect the Royals to build upon that experience under former assistant and new head coach Britten Olinger. |
2015 Poll Position: 4th Head Coach: Finn Pincus 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 4th (98 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Harrison Toney - 26:27.3 (2nd) 2014 Regionals Finish: 15th (408 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Harrison Toney - 25:34.42 (2nd) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: Harrison Toney - 25:32.0 (129th) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: Harrison Toney Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Harrison Toney - 25:32.0 (NCAA D-III Championships) Maroons' Outlook: It begins with Harrison Toney, who was the runner-up both at the ODAC Championships as well as the South/Southeast Regional. He went on to lead the conference at the NCAA Championships. John Wiggins, a Roanoke native, is expected to be near the front of the pack; at the 2014 ODAC championships he was 17th. A group of sophomores should also improve Roanoke's competitiveness with Justin Ginnings, the 1500 ODAC champion, Kevin Waterman, Howard Daniels, and Colin Brennan. Junior Cody Statler is also expected to be among the team's top-five. |
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2015 Poll Position: 6th Head Coach: Tom Antenucci 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 5th (141 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Michael Cawood - 28:25.0 (21st) 2014 Regionals Finish: 17th (473 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Alex Cooper - 27:42.88 (76th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Alex Cooper - 27:38.60 (Berry Invitational) Wasps' Outlook: E&H returns its entire top-10 from last year, including Michael Cawood and Alex Cooper, who were 21st and 23rd at the ODAC champs. With at least five runners poised to run sub 28:00 for 8K and only one senior, the Wasps look to continue to move up the ODAC ladder. If one of the top-five is able to break away from the pack, he will be a contender to move into the top third of the conference. Additionally, E&H has added two solid freshmen, Zane Moran and Austin Tolbert, who both will have the opportunity to push into the top seven and will certainly create even more depth for the program. |
2015 Poll Position: 8th Head Coach: Andy Marrocco 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 8th (255 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Matthew Horton - 28:46.8 (27th) 2014 Regionals Finish: Did Not Compete 2014 Regionals Top Time: N/A 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: Ray Parsons - 20:25.10 (Hornet Harrier) 8K Course: Ray Parsons - 26:14.10 (Don Cathcart Invite.) Hornets' Outlook: For SU, all men are returning from the 2014 squad including Matthew Horton and Ray Parsons. SU also adds Wyoming-native Justin Mehrer, who finished 21st at the Wyoming State Cross Country Championships. SU is also bringing on board Loudoun County High School local Bradley Zartman. With only two juniors, the rest of the squad is young with a lot of potential. |
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2015 Poll Position: 9th Head Coach: Danny Cash 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 9th (278 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Nick Reynolds - 29:48.5 (49th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 28th (790 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Trent Evans - 28:58.51 (129th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 5K Course: Nick Reynolds - 16:59.80 (Queens Twilight) 8K Course: Trent Evans - 28:58.51 (NCAA South/Southeast Reg.) Quakers' Outlook: Guilford is just a few years removed from boasting some of the best runners the ODAC has seen. The Quakers look to be back on the track to building up for another run, lead by top runners Nick Reynolds and Trent Evans. GC head coach Danny Cash also expect a few of the programs newcomers to challenge immediately for the top-five point-scoring positions. |
2015 Poll Position: 7th Head Coach: Mat Littleton 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 7th (200 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Trevor Maloney - 28:32.2 (25th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 19th (573 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Trevor Maloney - 27:40.51 (74th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 5K Course: Trevor Maloney - 17:13.20 (adidas XC Challenge) 8K Course: Trevor Maloney - 27:40.51 (NCAA South/Southeast Reg.) Marlins' Outlook: The Marlins' squad is set to be a veteran laden group with potentially six seniors and a pair of juniors dotting the rosters. Trevor Maloney is one of those third-year runners as he returns after leading VWC at both the ODAC Championships and the regionals. His best 8K competition time came in the final race of the season, so a shot at the top-14 is not out of the question. |
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2015 Poll Position: 11th Head Coach: Betsy Leonard 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 10th (280 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Max Morgan - 29:30.1 (43rd) 2014 Regionals Finish: No Team Score 2014 Regionals Top Time: Max Morgan - 28:29.89 (111th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: Max Morgan - 20:39.20 (Hornet Harrier) 8K Course: Max Morgan - 28:29.89 (NCAA South/Southeast Reg.) Tigers' Outlook: Look for the Tigers to come out with a larger roster that in the past in 2015 as head coach Betsy Leonard is eager for the start of the new campaign. Max Morgan returns to lead a squad that will feature several newcomers that will be expected to not only push the program's veteran runners, but elavate the Tigers in the ODAC championships standings. |
2015 Poll Position: 2nd Head Coach: Brandon Spalding 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 3rd (68 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Ian McDonald - 26:20.2 (1st) 2014 Regionals Finish: 7th (177 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Levi Warring - 25:42.53 (7th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: Levi Warring - 26:05.7 (222nd) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: Ian McDonald (champion), Mac Strehler Second Team: Levi Warring Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Mac Strehler - 25:11.80 (Don Cathcart Invite.) Generals' Outlook: Washington and Lee Men will look to senior Levi Warring and juniors Mac Strehler and Ian McDonald to lead the Generals up front. All three were All-ODAC runners last season, with McDonald winning the ODAC individual crown and Warring qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Sophomore MacKenzye Leroy and senior Jacob Strauss will add depth to the top-seven. W&L will rely on first-years to compete for remaining top-seven spots to stay competitive in the ODAC and South/Southeast Region. The Generals have lacked in depth at the nubmer four and five scoring positions the past two seasons and plan to close that gap this fall. A strong mid-season schedule will also benefit the Generals as they prepare for postseason meets. |
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2015 Poll Position: 5th Head Coach: Jim Sprecher 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 6th (177 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Drew Smith - 27:48.1 (15th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 21st (623 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Drew Smith - 27:26.77 (65th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Drew Smith - 27:26.77 (NCAA South/Southeast Reg.) Hornets' Outlook: Lynchburg cross county and track & field enters a new era with head coach Jim Sprecher opening his first season controlling the Hornets' reins. Drew Smith is poised to jump into the All-ODAC conversation after finishing 15th at the 2014 championships and missing out on the all-conference lists by one spot. Ben Stern and Denver Yost both scored for LC last year with each set to return. |