September 1, 2010

Women's Cross Country Tabs Lynchburg

September 1, 2010
Women's Cross Country Tabs Lynchburg

Hornets Picked to Win Second Straight ODAC Crown

FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College received seven first place nods towards 78 total points in the 2010 ODAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll.  Washington and Lee University grabbed one first place vote on its way to 70 total points, while Roanoke College followed closely with one first place tick and 66 total poll points.  The complete preseason poll is listed below.

Lynchburg won its fifth ODAC championship (results) a year ago and first since 2003.  Senior Jennie Pernisi took home the individual title and the ODAC Runner of the Year award with a time of 24:06.91.  She went on to finish fifth (24:03) at the South/Southeast Regional hosted by Guilford College.  Pernisi then posted a time of 24:00.08 at the NCAA Division III National Championships.

The Hornets return three-of-five all-conference runners from 2009, which helped LC to the third ranking of the USTFCCA South/Southeast Region Preseason Poll.  Pernisi heads the group of returnees, along with sophomores Molly Galloway and Kiley Trennepohl.  Galloway earned First Team All-ODAC accolades after placing sixth (25:04.02), while Trennepohl completed the course in 25:22.78 for a 10th place nod and garnered Second Team All-ODAC honors.

Washington and Lee finished second at the 2009 ODAC championship.  The Generals, ranked preseason #8 in the region, return two all-conference runners in sophomores Lauren Schultz and Molly Ortiz.  Schultz earned the ODAC Rookie of the Year hardware and first team honors after finishing seventh in a time of 25:10.62.  Ortiz crossed the finish line in 25:42.86 for a 13th place mark, earning second team accolades.

Roanoke, which has placed in the top-3 in each of the last 10 years, is led by senior Maggie Moore, who finished fourth after crossing the finish line with a first team time of 24:50.35.  The Maroons, who are ranked fifth in the preseason regional rankings, will also look to sophomore Emily Reichenbach, who finished 15th (25:55.61) a year ago, to break into the Top 10.

Virginia Wesleyan College will look to improve its conference finish in 2010 after a fourth place mark a year ago.  Junior Kelly Fauth spearheads the list of returning Marlins after placing 11th in 25:26.08.  Virginia Wesleyan will also turn to sophomore Michele Bryceland (26:09.40) to find her way into the top-14 this year.

Bridgewater College has consistently finished in fifth place each of the past five seasons.  The Eagles look to sophomore Molly Smith, who earned second team honors after notching clipping the tape in 25:15.78 a year ago.  Sophomore Whitney Fitzgerald (18th -26:02.83) also looks to climb the final individual standings for the Eagles.

Listed below is the 2010 ODAC Women's Cross Country Preseason 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 by clicking HERE.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter by clicking HERE. 


2010 ODAC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes

1. Lynchburg (7)                                   78 pts.

2. Washington and Lee (1)                 70 pts.

3. Roanoke (1)                                      66 pts.

4. Virginia Wesleyan                            52 pts.

5. Bridgewater                                      49 pts.

6. Guilford                                             30 pts.

7. Eastern Mennonite                         24 pts.

8. Randolph                                           20 pts.

9. Emory & Henry                                16 pts.