SOMERSET, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's cross team has been picked third in the 2009 Northeast Conference Cross Country Preseason Poll, league officials announced on Wednesday. For the fourth consecutive year, Quinnipiac was tabbed as the favorite to take home the title with the Bobcats garnering 10 first-place votes. Sacred Heart, the 2008 runner-up, sat in the second slot in the predicted order of finish with one top nod, while the Hawks and Saint Francis (Pa.) followed in third and fourth place, respectively.
Rounding out the top five was Central Connecticut State followed by Robert Morris and Wagner, who shared sixth. Slated eighth and notching the final first-place vote was Mount St. Mary's as Bryant claimed ninth. Completing the field of 12 were Long Island, St. Francis (NY) and Fairleigh Dickinson.
Monmouth has finished among the top-4 at the NEC title tilt in each of the last seven years. The Hawks prepare for the season featuring a well-rounded squad seeking to capture its first crown since 2000. Head coach Joe Compagni, now in his 14th season, returns top runner Cailin Lynam (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) for her senior campaign. During her career as a Hawk, Lynam has soared to the top of the NEC ranks. Since finishing 22nd as a freshman in 2006, the Garden State native has earned third place and all-NEC recognition in each of the last two years. A two-time NEC Athlete of the Week in 2008, Lynam ran the 5K Holmdel Park course in 18:46.9. Rounding out the top-10 harriers in the field last season was Christine Altland (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan), who earned all-league honors as a sophomore with a time of 19:21.
The 2009 NEC Men's Cross Country Championship will take place at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT on October 31. The Bobcats will serve as meet host.
The Blue and White open their season up at home when they host the Monmouth Cross Country Kick-Off on Saturday, September 5th at Thompson Park in Lincroft, N.J..
2009 Northeast Conference
Women's Cross Country
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Quinnipiac (10)
2. Sacred Heart (1)
3. Monmouth
4. Saint Francis (PA)
5. Central Connecticut State
6. Robert Morris
Wagner
8. Mount St. Mary's (1)
9. Bryant
10. Long Island
11. St. Francis (NY)
12. Fairleigh Dickinson
First place votes in parentheses
