Generals Receive 11 First Place Votes
FOREST, Va. --- The top of the ODAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll looks much the same as last year with three-time defending champion Washington and Lee University heading the list produced annually by the league's head coaches. The Generals collected 11 first place votes on the way to a chart-topping 121 points. Bridgewater College and the University of Lynchburg also held suit from a season ago in second and third positions, respectively. The Eagles picked up 110 tallies including the remaining top nod, while the Hornets garnered 100 total points.
Washington and Lee completed its third straight sweep of the ODAC cross country team titles, winning the men's crown by 21 points over Bridgewater (27-48) on the championship course at Virginia Wesleyan University. The Generals' five scoring runners placed inside the top-12 with Mackenzye Leroy, Hank Patrick, and Cooper Baird finishing 2-3-4 followed by Austin Kinne in sixth and Freddie Marx in 12th. BC's Jamie Hiegel left no doubt about the individual champion as his time of 24:35.4 was 0:31.5 faster than second place.
Hiegel again led ODAC runners at the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Regionals on the Lee Hall Mansion course in Newport News, Va. Hiegel chimed in sixth (2:08.09) to punch his ticket to the national championships. W&L's trio of Patrick, Leroy, and Baird also qualified for Division III's final meet, finishing 12th (24:54.1), 14th (24:58.8) and 21st (25:13.4), respectively.
At the national championships in Elsah, Ill., Hiegel topped the ODAC contingent for a third straight race as he finished 65th in 25:16.36, his second straight top-70 showing in the national event. Leroy stopped the watches 134th (25:42.3), while Baird cross the line 174th (25:52.76) and Patrick in 221st (26:16.65) position.
RELATED: 2017 ODAC Championship Results | 2017 NCAA Regional Results | 2017 NCAA Championship Results
There is no shortage of returning talent in 2018 with all but one of the 14 All-ODAC honorees back for another run. Washington and Lee and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Brandon Spalding feature four of those athletes, although the Generals will have to replace 2017 ODAC runner-up Leroy. Patrick (3rd), Baird (4th), and Kinne (6th) were each All-ODAC First Team runners last season, with Patrick doubling as the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete. Marx (12th) turned his All-ODAC Second Team performance in the conference championship to ODAC Rookie of the Year laurels following the regional meet.
Bridgewater welcomes back the biggest name with ODAC Runner of the Year and Meet, Hiegel (1st), returning to lead the Eagles' rotation. He'll be joined by fellow first teamer Max Weidman (7th) and second teamers Robert Theimer (8th) and Johnny Haizel-Cobbina (11th).
Lynchburg welcomes back two more honored standouts, including the remaining first team returner in Tristan Lucy-Speidel (5th). He's joined by second teamer and ODAC Rookie of the Meet, Hunter Frizzell (9th).
Emory & Henry College, Roanoke College, and Shenandoah University account for three second team finishers, capping the list of returning award winners. The Wasps feature Austin Tolbert (10th), while the Maroons look to Devyn Heron (13th) and the Hornets showcase Justin Mehrer (14th).
RELATED: 2017 All-ODAC Awards
The 2018 season begins with a series of events on Friday, August 31. The ODAC Preview will be hosted by eventual conference championship-host Shenandoah University on Saturday, September 22. The conference championships will be Saturday, October 27. Both the preview and championship will be conducted at Kernstown Battlefield in Kernstown, Va.
The NCAA postseason opens with the regional competition on Saturday, November 10. The Division III South/Southeast Regional Championship will be hosted by Berry College in Mt. Berry, Ga. The NCAA Division III National Championship is slated for Saturday, November 17 at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wis.
Listed below is the 2018 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 and Instagram.
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2018 Poll Position: 2nd Head Coach: Brian Flynn 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 2nd | 48 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Jamie Hiegel | 24:35.4 (1st-ROM/RuOY) 2017 Regionals Finish: 6th | 200 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Jamie Hiegel | 24:22.1 (6th) 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: Jamie Hiegel | 25:16.36 (65th) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: Jamie Hiegel (1st), Max Weidman (7th) Second Team: Robert Theimer (8th), Johnny Haizel-Cobbina (11th) Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Jamie Hiegel | 24:22.1 (NCAA Regionals) |
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2018 Poll Position: 8th Head Coach: Bob Hepler 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 10th | 255 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Justice Allen | 27:40.0 (43rd) 2017 Regionals Finish: No team result 2017 Regionals Top Time: Diego Avila | 27:06.6 (125th) 2017 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: Justice Allen | 27:15.1 (NCAA Regionals) |
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2018 Poll Position: 7th Head Coach: David Cheromei 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 7th | 206 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Austin Tolbert | 25:52.26 (10th) 2017 Regionals Finish: 27th | 771 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Austin Tolbert | 26:29.9 (77th) 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: Austin Tolbert (10th) Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Austin Tolbert | 25:52.26 (ODAC Champs) |
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2018 Poll Position: 12th Head Coach: Mark White 2017 USAS Champs Finish: 9th | 262 pts. 2017 USAS Champs Top Time: Christopher Nichols | 34:41.78 (57th) 2017 Regionals Finish: Did not compete 2017 Regionals Top Time: N/A 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-USAS RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: Christopher Nichols | 23:50.0 (Hokie Open) 8K Course: Brett Binnix | 28:50.7 (Va. Tech Alumni) |
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2018 Poll Position: 10th Head Coach: Marla Lindsay 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 8th | 250 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Kieran Arbury | 27:35.8 (41st) 2017 Regionals Finish: 26th | 749 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Kieran Arbury | 27:25.6 (145th) 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: Caleb Amstutz | 21:07.0 (Hornet Harrier) 8K Course: Caleb Amstutz | 27:30.1 (NCAA Regionals) |
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2018 Poll Position: 9th Head Coach: Betsy Leonard 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 9th | 253 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Lewis Brooks | 26:44.3 (26th) 2017 Regionals Finish: Did not compete 2017 Regionals Top Time: N/A 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: None Top Returners by Time 6K Course: Lewis Brooks | 20:27.6 (Hornet Harrier) 8K Course: Lewis Brooks | 26:44.3 (ODAC Champs) |
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2018 Poll Position: 3rd Head Coach: Jim Sprecher 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 3rd | 85 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Tristan Lucy-Speidel | 25:11.44 (5th) 2017 Regionals Finish: 9th | 306 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Tristan Lucy-Speidel | 25:17.6 (24th) 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: Tristan Lucy-Speidel (5th) Second Team: Hunter Frizzell (9th-ROM) Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Tristan Lucy-Speidel | 25:11.44 (ODAC Champs) |
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2018 Poll Position: 11th Head Coach: Bill Cooper 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 11th | 294 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Alex Clem | 28:59.8 (61st) 2017 Regionals Finish: Did not compete 2017 Regionals Top Time: N/A 2017 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: Jermayne Waller | 28:54.0 (Queen City) |
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2018 Poll Position: 4th Head Coach: Kirk Nauman 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 4th | 109 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Devyn Heron | 26:04.27 (13th) 2017 Regionals Finish: 14th | 431 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Howard Daniels | 26:06.8 (55th) 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: Devyn Heron (13th) Top Returners by Time 6K Course: N/A 8K Course: Devyn Heron | 26:04.27 (ODAC Champs) |
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2018 Poll Position: 6th Head Coach: Andy Marrocco 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 5th | 143 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Justin Mehrer | 26:05.5 (14th) 2017 Regionals Finish: 21st | 550 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Jonah Allard | 26:10.0 (59th) 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: None Second Team: Justin Mehrer (14th) Top Returners by Time 6K Course: Justin Mehrer | 20:24.2 (Hornet Harrier) 8K Course: Justin Mehrer | 26:05.5 (ODAC Champs) |
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2018 Poll Position: 5th Head Coach: Mat Littleton 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 6th | 177 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Jordan Sulcer | 26:44.7 (27th) 2017 Regionals Finish: 22nd | 582 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Jordan Sulcer | 26:14.1 (63rd) 2017 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: Jordan Sulcer | 26:14.1 (NCAA Regionals) |
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2018 Poll Position: 1st Head Coach: Brandon Spalding 2017 ODAC Champs Finish: 1st | 27 pts. 2017 ODAC Champs Top Time: Mackenzye Leroy | 25:06.81 (2nd) 2017 Regionals Finish: 4th | 113 pts. 2017 Regionals Top Time: Hank Patrick | 24:54.1 (12th) 2017 NCAA D-III Champs Finish: No team score 2017 NCAA Champs Top Time: Mackenzye Leroy | 25:42.3 (134th) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS First Team: Hank Patrick (3rd), Cooper Baird (4th), Austin Kinne (6th) Second Team: Freddie Marx (12th-RoOY) Top Returners by Time 6K Course: Austin Kinne | 20:18.6 (Hornet Harrier) 8K Course: Hank Patrick | 24:54.1 (NCAA Regionals) |