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Knights' women's cross country picked ninth in CVAC preseason poll Courtesy of CVAC office August 24, 2006 THOMASVILLE, N.C.—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College women’s cross country team was picked ninth in the 2006 Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Preseason Coaches Poll as voted upon by the head coaches. Sophomore Alyson Trovato (Cedar Park, Texas) and freshman Heather Woodard (Hampton, Va.) were named to the CVAC women’s cross country “Runners to Watch” list. The Anderson University Women’s Cross Country Team was voted the upcoming favorite in this years cross country preseason poll. Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference head coaches voted the Trojans the top team in an annual preseason poll to rank predicted order of finish within the league. New Anderson University head cross country coach Randy Greer inherits a veteran women’s team. The Lady Trojans, the defending Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference champions, will be led by junior Jennifer Hitt and sophomore Diana Willard. Hitt, a two-time CVAC individual champion earning Runner of the Year honors, and Willard, who was the Freshman of the Year, both qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championship meet last fall. Hitt recorded seven top-ten finishes last season and won two individual titles – Lander and CVAC. Willard recorded six top-ten finishes and one individual title. As a team, the Lady Trojans won two team titles and recorded four top-four finishes. “The women’s team is looking real solid,” Greer said. “We didn’t lose anybody and we’re bringing in one or two runners who are going to help immediately. I think we have a good chance to repeat as CVAC champions and make the nationals as a team.” The Queens University of Charlotte women's cross country took the second spot in the coaches poll as the team looks to improve on last seasons second place finish in the CVAC Championship. Leading the effort for the Royals will be All-CVAC second team member Whitney Dennis and All-CVAC honorable mention team member Katie Carman, who both finished in the top 15 in last years CVAC Championships. Coach Michael Bell's incoming group of runners will help the Royals challenge for the CVAC Championship as they hope to improve upon last years fifth place finish at the NCAA DII Regional meet. The Barton College women’s cross country team has all seven runners back from a squad that raced to a third-place CVAC finish in 2005. Leading the charge will be senior Brooke Richardson, the team MVP who was injured at the end of last season and sophomore Gina Castro who capped a solid freshman year last fall with an All-CVAC second team run. In fact, Barton is excited about this season since its top five runners placed in the top 23 in last year’s CVAC Championships. “We have everybody back, with a lot of veterans, so we have high expectations,” BC head coach Sheryl Neff said. CVAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Season Poll 2006 CVAC Women’s “Preseason Runners to Watch” List Name (School & Year): Highlights |