Cross Country Preseason Polls Released

The Northeast Conference has released its annual Cross Country Preseason Coaches Polls and the Mount St. Mary's men's and women's teams have each been selected to finish in seventh place.

On the men's side, senior Dylan Bernard is the top returnee.  A three-time All-NEC selection, Bernard is looking to become the first Mountaineer to earn All-NEC honors all four years since Matt Logie (2005-08).  Chris Swisko and Sean Caskey each finished in the top 40 last year for the Mountaineers as well.

The women's team will be paced by junior Megan Kinsella, an NEC All-Conference selection in each of the past two years.  The NEC's Rookie of the Year as a freshman, Kinsella finished 13^th in the field last season. 

The Mount opens the 2011 season by hosting the Mount St. Mary's 5K Duals on Friday, September 2, with a 1:00 p.m. start.

2011 Northeast Conference Men's Cross Country
Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Central Connecticut State (10)
2. Saint Francis (PA) (2)
3. Sacred Heart
4. Monmouth
5. Wagner
6. Bryant
7. Mount St. Mary's
8. Quinnipiac
9. Robert Morris
10. St. Francis (NY)
11. Fairleigh Dickinson
12. Long Island
   
First place votes in parentheses ( ).

Northeast Conference 2011 Women's Cross Country
Preseason Coaches Poll

1.    Quinnipiac (11)
2.    Monmouth (1)
3.    Sacred Heart
4.    Central Connecticut State
5.    Saint Francis (PA)
6.    Robert Morris
7.    Mount St. Mary's
8.    Bryant
9.    Wagner
10.   Fairleigh Dickinson
11.   St. Francis (NY)
12.   Long Island

First place votes in parentheses