Elon Women’s Cross Country Selected First, Men Seventh in Preseason Poll

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Elon women’s cross country team has been selected the preseason favorite by the league’s coaches in the Southern Conference 2012 Cross Country Preseason Poll, the league officially announced today, August 22, while the Phoenix men were selected seventh.

The women’s team received seven first-place votes and a total of 115 points. In 2011, the Elon women finished third at the conference championships. The Phoenix return three of its top four runners from last season, including junior Allyson Oram, who set the school record at the conference meet and finished ninth overall.

UNCG, the reigning women’s champion, were selected second with two first-place votes, while Appalachian State received one first-place vote and Fuman garnered two.

The men earned 49 points in the preseason poll behind preseason selection UNCG. The maroon and gold returns the school record holder in sophomore Luis Vargas, who earned the best ever finish by an Elon male of 10th at last year’s conference championship.

The Spartans received nine first-place votes and 99 points as the defending champions and were followed by Appalachian State, Davidson, Furman, Chattanooga and Western Carolina. Elon is picked to finish ahead of Samford, College of Charleston, Wofford and The Citadel.

The Elon men’s and women’s cross country teams will start the 2012 season on Friday, August 31, at the Demon Deacon Quad in Winston-Salem, N.C. The 2012 SoCon Championships will be held in Charleston, S.C., on October 27.

2012 Cross Country Preseason Polls
Men
1. UNCG (9) – 99 points
2. Appalachian State – 86 points
3. Davidson (2) – 81 points
4. Furman – 76 points
5. Chattanooga – 65 points
6. Western Carolina – 54 points
7. Elon – 49 points
8. Samford – 31 points
9. College of Charleston – 30 points
10. Wofford – 18 points
11. The Citadel – 16 points

Women
1. Elon (7) – 115 points
2. UNCG (2) – 103 points
3. Appalachian State (1) – 99 points
4. Furman (2) – 88 points
5. Samford – 84 points
6. Davidson – 67 points
7. Western Carolina – 61 points
8. College of Charleston – 55 points
9. Chattanooga – 48 points
10. Wofford – 35 points
11. Georgia Southern – 20 points
12. The Citadel – 17 points