ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Anderson University women's cross-country team has been picked second in the 2022 South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches' poll, announced by the league office on Wednesday (Aug. 17) morning.

Wingate topped the poll with a total of 144 points, and 12 of the 13 first-place votes. The Anderson Trojans came in second with 125 points, with Catawba ranked third with 124 points and the final first-place vote. Lincoln Memorial's 111 points finished fourth in the poll, with Lenoir-Rhyne the final school to earn over 100 points at 104 to finish fifth.

"Our goal is to qualify both teams to the NCAA National Championship meet. To do that, we must finish top-3 within the region," said Eagle. "With nationals being in Seattle this year as part of the festival, I would love to bring both teams to compete. On a conference level, I know that both teams can finish top-two if we execute the race plan properly."

Spain Vaughan and Daniel Similton were both named athletes to watch in the conference press release after great seasons in 2021. At the conclusion of the season, both were named to the USTFCCCA All-Region team along with Philip Quillen.

Vaughan, a sophomore from Greer, S.C., is coming off a great freshman season in the black and gold. Vaughan ran a season best in the 8k (24:46) at the SAC XC Championships and the 10k (31:58.4) at the NCAA Division II Southeast Region XC Championships.

Similton, a senior from Indian Trial, N.C., excelled in the 8k last season by winning at the Run the Berry Invite (27:54) and recording a personal best time at the Queen City Invite (24:54. At the NCAA Division II Southeast Region XC Championships, he ran a personal best in the 10k with a time of 31:57.3.

The 2022 campaign begins for the Trojans on Sept. 17 at the Converse Kick-Off Classic in Spartanburg, S.C. hosted by Converse University. Results can be found at www.autrojans.com.

Full SAC release