Washington and Lee, Lynchburg Each Earn First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Roanoke College secured six first place votes and 48 total points as the Maroons were selected atop the 2012-13 ODAC Women's Indoor Track Coaches' Poll.  Washington and Lee University garnered one top nod and 43 tallies to hold down the second slot.  Lynchburg College rounds out the top three after receiving 37 points including one first place vote.

Roanoke, winner of eight overall ODAC indoor track titles and five of the past seven, features the return of two-time ODAC Track Athlete of the Year, Carmen Graves.  Graves had a banner 2011-12 indoor season that culminated in an All-American honor after placing third in the 800-meter dash (2:13.93) at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track Championships.  The 2012 South/Southeast Region Athlete of the Year won twice at the ODAC indoor championships, claiming top prize in the 400-dash (58.78) and 800-meter run (2:20.18).  She also finished second in the triple jump (11.05m) and third in the long jump (5.21m).

Graves was joined by returning teammate Hope Flomo in helping RC to a win in the 4x400-meter relay (4:02.53).  Flomo captured individual second in the 60-meter dash (8.02) and fifth in the 200-meter dash (27.11).  The Maroons welcome back two more event winners in Esther Prempeh and Gabrielle Giersch.  Prempeh won the 60-meter dash (8.00) and placed fourth in the 200-meter dash (27.07), while Giersch posted the best mark in the high jump (1.56m).  Meagan Tolley bounded to a third place showing in the triple jump (11.00m), and Alisha McCrowey (13.45m) and Sam Clowser (13.36m) finished second and third in the weight throw, respectively.

Washington and Lee is also stock full of returning talent led by a pair of event winners.  Annelise Madison won the mile run (5:16.67) and placed second in the 800-meter run (2:22.80).  Jill Katterhagen took home top prize in the pole vault (2.93m) in addition to placing fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.75).  Marissa Thompson scored in four individual events as she placed third in the 60-meter dash (8.10), 200-meter dash (26.94) and 60-meter hurdles (9.72), and placed fourth in the long jump (5.02m).  She also registered a seventh-place showing in the triple jump (10.51m).  Lauren Schultz (18:49.88) and Brandie Huffman (18:54.37) chimed in second and third in the 5,000-meter run.  Schultz added a third place performance in the mile run (5:23.99).  Alexandra Hagan came in just behind Katterhagen in the pole vault in second (2.83m).

Lynchburg looks to add to its ODAC-best nine indoor track titles with some strong competitors back in the fold.  Kori Penick claimed first place in the shot put (12.28) last season.  Aleshia Washington put together a second place finish in the long jump (5.29m), took fourth in 60-meter dash (8.20), and claimed fifth in the triple jump (10.59m).  Jasmyne Johnson finished as the runner-up in the 200-meter dash (26.88) and stopped the watches fifth in the 400-meter dash (60.98).

Bridgewater College's Jordan Pitchford is back after claiming ODAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2012.  Her five-event day at the ODAC championships included a first place finish in the triple jump (11.15m) and second place showing in the high jump (1.56m).  She also placed sixth in the 60-meter dash (8.35), eighth in the long jump (4.83m), and 10th in the 200-meter dash (28.27).

Courtney Mebane is back for her third season at Virginia Wesleyan College.  The former ODAC Rookie of the Year (2010) finished second in the 60-meter hurdles (9.53), fifth in the high jump (1.53m) and sixth in the triple jump (10.52m).

Shenandoah University finished first in the distance medley relay (13:16.53) in then its first season as an ODAC competitor.  SU thrower Amanda Theall is back in the fold after winning the weight throw (14.26m).

Eastern Mennonite University brings a large freshman class into the 2012-13 season.  The Royals will look to runners Alli Eanes (12th in the 5,000 at 20:25.78) and Sophia Holmes (7th in 800 at 2:27.78) to lead the way.  Guilford College looks for Jasmine O'Neill (14th in 800 at 2:37.48) to build upon a strong rookie season.

Listed below is the full 2012-13 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.

2012-13 ODAC WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK COACHES POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes