Lenoir-Rhyne Picked To Defend Women’s Cross Country Championship

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Lenoir-Rhyne University, which has won the last two South Atlantic Conference women's cross country championships, is the unanimous choice to capture the 2010 title, in a vote of the league's head coaches.

The Bears received all 10 first place votes and 100 total points. Lenoir-Rhyne also placed four on the preseason All-Conference team.

Leading the way for the Bears is returning SAC Runner of the Year Kate Griewisch. She also was the Southeast Region runner of the year and earned All-American honors after finishing 19th in the NCAA Championship.

Joining Griewisch on the first team is Tiffany Payne, who finished fifth in last year's conference championship. Liz Chaffee and Amanda Barnes were named to the second team.

Carson-Newman College is picked to finish second with 80 points. The Eagles placed three on the preseason All-Conference team. Brooke Earhart and Meredith Nix were named to the first team, while Melissa Ford was named to the second team. Nix finished third in last year's conference championship.

First-year conference member Anderson University is picked to finish third. The Trojans received 76 points and will be led by preseason All-Conference selection Whitney Bishoff. She was the Conference Carolinas cross country champion last season and earned All-American status by finishing 25th in the NCAA Championship.

Wingate University is picked to finish fourth with 74 points. The Bulldogs placed Alicia Harbold, who finished ninth in last year's conference championship, on the preseason All-Conference first team.

Lincoln Memorial University received 59 points for fifth place. Sofia Lopez Mimendi, who finished second in last year's conference championship, was named to the preseason All-Conference first team, while Fiona Reinecke and Ashley Robbins were named to the second team.

Sixth place went to Catawba College with 52 points. Hannah Thomas, who placed 17th last year, was named to the preseason All-Conference second team.

Mars Hill College received 45 points for seventh place. Hannah Moore was named to the preseason All-Conference second team.

Brevard College (33 points), Newberry College (20 points) and Tusculum College (11 points) round out the poll.

The 2010 season begins Thursday, September 2 with Mars Hill participating in the Montreat Invitational. Tusculum runs Friday, September 3 in the Stampede at the Shoals meet in Elizabethton, Tenn. Most of the other teams will participate in the Eye Opener Meet in Spartanburg, S.C. on Saturday, September 4.

The 2010 Food Lion SAC Cross Country Championship will be November 6 at Wingate University.

2010 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
Pl School Pts
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (10) 100
2. Carson-Newman 80
3. Anderson 76
4. Wingate 74
5. Lincoln Memorial 59
6. Catawba 52
7. Mars Hill 45
8. Brevard 33
9. Newberry 20
10. Tusculum 11
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2010 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason All-Conference Team
First Team
Whitney Bishoff, Anderson
Brooke Earhart, Carson-Newman
Meredith Nix, Carson-Newman
Kate Griewisch, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tiffany Payne, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sofia Lopez Mimendi, Lincoln Memorial
Alicia Harbold, Wingate

Second Team
Melissa Ford, Carson-Newman
Hannah Thomas, Catawba
Liz Chaffee, Lenoir-Rhyne
Amanda Barnes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Fiona Reinecke, Lincoln Memorial
Ashley Robbins, Lincoln Memorial
Hannah Moore, Mars Hill