BC, W&L, EMU Receive First Place Consideration

FOREST, Va. --- Bridgewater College earned six first place votes on the way to 78 total points to lead a tightly packed survey in the 2015 ODAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll.  Washington and Lee University and Eastern Mennonite University also earned top consideration in what appears will be one of the most competitive seasons in conference history.  W&L is second in the poll standings with 72 points, with EMU rounding out the top three with 69 tallies.

At the 2014 ODAC Championships, Bridgewater and Eastern Mennonite dueled for the top spot, splitting the first four individual positions.  BC proved the victor, led by two-time champion Kaylee Kubisiak ahead of EMU's Hannah Chappell-Dick and Kat Lehman, as well as graduated teammate Zany Ludtke.  Bridgewater's top-seven runners stopped the watches inside the top-23.

Kubisiak and Lehman's success continued at the regional and national levels.  Kubisiak finished just eight-seconds off the pace at the South/Southeast Regional for runner-up honors, while Lehman joined her in the top-10 with a ninth-place showing.  Both qualified for the NCAA Championships in Mason, Ohio.  Kubisiak had the best finish of any ODAC runner, man or woman, with a 60th-place showing.  Lehman capped her rookie campaign in 202nd place.

Nine of the 14 All-ODAC runners are set to return to rosters this season, including first teamers.  Kubisiak and Mackenzie McDonald led BC from the first team, while EMU returns a trio of all-conference runners -- Chappell-Dick and Lehman from the first team and second teamer Jolee Paden.  Roanoke College features a pair of experienced veterans in Caity Ashley and Kerri Dalton, who earned first and second team laurels, respectively.  Washington and Lee's Rachel Steffen and Emory & Henry College's Meg Greene took up position on the second team.

The 2015 campaign 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 Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC women's cross country programs.  For more information on ODAC women'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 Poll Position: 1st Head Coach: Brian Flynn 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 1st (42 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Kaylee Kubisiak - 23:35.6 (1st) 2014 Regionals Finish: 7th (160 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Kaylee Kubisiak - 21:50.33 (2nd) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: Kaylee Kubisiak - 22:52.7 (60th) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: Kaylee Kubisiak (champion), Makenzie McDonald   Second Team: None Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Emily Mellman - 20:59.00 (Shenandoah Valley Invite.)   6K Course: Kaylee Kubisiak - 21:15.80 (NCAA Pre-Nationals Invite.) Eagles' Outlook: Bridgewater brings experience of how to win at the ODAC level, winning three of the last four championships.  Kaylee Kubisiak and Mackenzie McDonald were both first team choices last season, with the former winning the ODAC individual title for the second straight year.  Seniors Emily Mellman and Lauren Johnson finished 15th and 16th at the ODAC Championships.  Reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, Brian Flynn, knows that depth will be needed with runners from at least four teams capable of qualifying for national competition.		2015 Poll Position: T-9th Head Coach: Bill Cooper 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 9th (247 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Monica Ashby - 27:18.7 (41st) 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   5K Course: Dani Hill - 22:11.0 (Shenandoah Valley Invite.)   6K Course: Dani Hill - 28:09.80 (ODAC Preview) WildCats' Outlook: Youth is going to be the theme for this year’s WildCats.  With no seniors on the squad, Randolph is looking to bring all of the first year women up to speed.  Dani Hill is the top returner from last season and looks to continue building on the improvements she has made over her first two seasons as a WildCat.  Sophomore Sophia Dill is had a solid rookie year and looks to improve upon her first campaign.  Four first year runners will join the mix with the returners and look to impact the team immediately.
2015 Poll Position: 3rd Head Coach: Britten Olinger 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 2nd (55 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Hannah Chappell-Dick - 23:45.1 (2nd) 2014 Regionals Finish: 8th (229 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Kat Lehman - 22:41.59 (9th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: Kat Lehman - 24:02.2 (202nd) Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: Hannah Chappell-Dick, Kat Lehman   Second Team: Jolee Paden Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Kat Lehman - 19:28.00 (Shenandoah Valley Invite.)   6K Course: Kat Lehman - 21:58.40 (NCAA Pre-Nationals Invite.) Royals' Outlook: There won't be any surprise to anyone on what EMU returns, with Kat Lehman and Hannah Chappell-Dick forming arguably the best 1-2 pairing in the region.  Both were NCAA national qualifiers, finishing second and third in the ODAC last season.  Jolee Paden had a great finish to her track season and will be relied upon to anchor EMU in the middle.  Former assistant and first year head coach Britten Olinger believes he has some new runners who will be ready to step up come October and November, just in time for ODAC and regional championship competition.		2015 Poll Position: 4th Head Coach: Finn Pincus 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 4th (88 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Caity Ashley - 24:33.3 (5th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 13th (347 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Caity Ashley - 23:08.58 (17th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: Caity Ashley   Second Team: Kerri Dalton Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Kerri Dalton - 19:46.80 (Hagan-Stone Classic)   6K Course: Caity Ashley - 23:08.58 (NCAA South/Southeast Reg.) Maroons' Outlook: Roanoke will be a competitive squad this fall due to a strong group of veterans.  The junior class had three women who scored points at the ODAC Outdoor T&F Championships and they appear to be ready to continue racing well this fall.  Caity Ashley, a first teamer and All-Southeast Region, won the ODAC track steeplechase title last April for the second year in a row, with Claire Brooks placing third both years.  Kerri Dalton pushed the pace in the late stages of the 10,000 meters, eventually finishing second and coming back to score points in the 5,000.  The Roanoke-native also earned second team honors last fall.  Sophomores Jennifer Barthol and Nora DeBoer competed well in their first year and should be factors in Roanoke’s fortunes.
2015 Poll Position: 7th Head Coach: Tom Antenucci 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 7th (193 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Meg Greene - 25:13.6 (10th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 26th (688 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Meg Greene - 24:28.58 (68th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: None   Second Team: Meg Greene Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Meg Greene - 19:58.70 (Royals XC Challenge)   6K Course: Meg Greene - 24:28.58 (NCAA South/Southeast Reg.) Wasps' Outlook: E&H will once again be the youngest team in the conference, with eight of the nine runners on its roster being freshman and sophomores.  E&H returns second team runner Meg Greene (10th), who is poised to make a jump forward in her second campaign. Buoyed by a solid freshman class that includes five runners, the Wasps will have a significant depth increase over last season.  The team will look for one or more of these new runners to make a significant step forward with improved training and resources at the college level.  With a legitimate front-runner and better depth, E&H looks to keep moving up in the conference rankings.		2015 Poll Position: 6th Head Coach: Andy Marrocco 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 6th (160 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Dorothy Earner - 25:07.8 (9th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 20th (573 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Dorothy Earner - 24:18.82 (63rd) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: None   Second Team: None Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Shelby Shrader - 20:59.60 (Hornet Harrier)   6K Course: Shelby Shrader - 24:06.10 (Don Cathcart Invite.) Hornets' Outlook: SU must replace All-ODAC cross country runner and ODAC 10k champ Dorothy Earner following her graduation.  The Hornets feature a crop of seven standouts looking to do just that.  Team captain Nicole Legare returns as the lone senior, along with junior Shelby Shrader and sophomore Mackenzie Fennell.  Likely contributing to the top-seven immediately will be Kayla McGhee, who finished 14th at VHSL 1A state championships in 2014 and finished 7th in the 800m at 2015 VHSL 1A/2A state track & field championships.
2015 Poll Position: T-9th Head Coach: Danny Cash 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 8th (219 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Rebecca Reyna - 26:35.8 (29th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 25th (683 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Rebecca Reyna - 25:12.74 (96th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: None   Second Team: None Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Rebecca Reyna - 20:26.80 (Queens Twilight)   6K Course: Rebecca Reyna - 25:12.74 (NCAA South/Southeast Reg.) Quakers' Outlook: With the loss of several letter winners, the Quakers continue to rebuild their squad with a positive outlook for the upcoming campaign.  Rebecca Reyna led Guilford in all facets last season, and she returns looking to improve upon an impressive campaign.  She and Sommer Fanney, who finished strong in the outdoor track season, will be looked to lead a roster that will include several new runners.		2015 Poll Position: 5th Head Coach: Krista Littleton 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 5th (142 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Liz Wade - 24:54.2 (7th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 14th (402 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Liz Wade - 23:30.39 (28th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: None   Second Team: None Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Shakiella Daniel - 21:31.90 (adidas XC Challenge)   6K Course: Shakiella Daniel - 24:12.30 (Don Cathcart Invite.) Marlins' Outlook: Head coach Krista Littleton has a major contributor to replace in first teamer Liz Wade.  Shakiella Daniel is poised to ease that loss as she returns as the top Marlin at both the 5K and 6K distances.  Her 28th place finish at ODAC's last year has her set for a shot at the top-14. Kyla Edwards-Henderson earned points in her rookie campaign and looks to join Emily Wilson and Tiana Hughes in helping VWC move up the ODAC ranks.
2015 Poll Position: 8th Head Coach: Jim Sprecher 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 10th (280 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Lindsey Crill - 27:51.4 (50th) 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   5K Course: Meagan Gallagher - 22:06.00 (Shenandoah Valley Invite.)   6K Course: Lindsey Crill - 27:26.40 (CNU Invite.) Hornets' Outlook: Lynchburg cross county and track & field is under new leadership entering the 2015-16 academic year with head coach Jim Sprecher opening his first season in the Hill City.  He will look to quickly rebuild and retool the Hornets after finishing 10th at last year's championships.  Lindsey Crill and Meagan Gallagher, LC's top two runners at the ODAC championships, are among a group of returners expected to lead this season's team.		2015 Poll Position: 2nd Head Coach: Michael Dager 2014 ODAC Champs Finish: 3rd (83 pts.) 2014 ODAC Champs Top Time: Rachel Steffen - 25:15.2 (11th) 2014 Regionals Finish: 11th (325 pts.) 2014 Regionals Top Time: Rachel Steffen - 23:06.26 (15th) 2014 NCAA D-III Champs Competitors: None Returning All-ODAC RUNNERS   First Team: None   Second Team: Rachel Steffen Top Returners by Time   5K Course: Rachel Steffen - 20:59.20 (John Tucker Invite.)   6K Course: Rachel Steffen - 22:46.00 (Don Cathcart Invite.) Generals' Outlook: Seniors Rachel Solomon and Katy Bonaro will provide leadership to a young W&L squad this season.  Sophomore Rachel Steffen is looking to improve on an excellent rookie campaign after finishing 15th at the 2014 South/Southeast Regional Championship in addition to earning All-ODAC Second Team accolades.  Her track prowess was also proven after running an 18:17 personal best over 5000 meters.  Several additional returnees and a group of capable first-years will provide some depth for the W&L this fall.  The Generals will look to improve upon their third place finish from a year ago.