ROCK HILL, S.C. – After finishing third at last season's NCAA Southeast Regional and claiming the program's second straight appearance in the NCAA Championships a season ago, the Anderson women's cross country team has been predicted to finish second in the 2019 SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as released by the league office Thursday morning.
With the exception of only two spots, the coaches' poll mirrored the results from the 2018 SAC Championships, with Wingate and Carson-Newman flipping between the fourth and sixth slots and league-newcomer UVa-Wise claiming 12th place.
Queens, the three-time defending conference champion, grabbed 11 first-place votes and was tabbed to claim its fourth consecutive title after knocking off three-time defending champion Wingate three seasons ago. The two-time defending NCAA Southeast Region Champions return three all-conference performers, including First-Team All-SAC performers Natane Deruytter and Mandi Moxie.
The Trojans, who won back-to-back SAC Championships in 2010 and 2011 have finished as runners-up at each of the last two SAC Championships following consecutive third-place finishes in 2014, 2015 and 2016. AU boasts eight returning letterwinners on its' roster, including a pair of juniors - Olivia Evans and Olivia Rish – who earned all-conference honors a season ago for the Black and Gold.
Lenoir-Rhyne, which has won three SAC titles – most recently in 2012 - was at No. 3 in the poll with 107 points, while Wingate captured one first-place vote and was fourth in the poll. Catawba (94 points) and Carson-Newman (93 points) were close behind in fifth and sixth place, respectively. The Eagles have won five conference titles, with the most recent coming in 2005.
Tusculum took the No. 7 spot for the second straight year with 77 points, while Lincoln Memorial was No. 8 in the poll, earning 63 points from the coaches. In the No. 9 spot for the second consecutive year was Mars Hill with 48 points, while Newberry (40 points), Coker (33 points) and UVa-Wise (27 points) rounded out the preseason standings at No. 10, No. 11 and No. 12, respectively.
Overall, a dozen all-conference runners from the 2018 SAC Championship will return from their respective teams.
Anderson will get the season underway, Friday, Sept. 6 at the Converse Kickoff Classic.
2019 Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (First Place Votes) Points
1. Queens (11) 132
2. Anderson 113
3. Lenoir-Rhyne 107
4. Wingate (1) 97
5. Catawba 94
6. Carson-Newman 93
7. Tusculum 77
8. Lincoln Memorial63
9. Mars Hill 48
10. Newberry 40
11. Coker 33
12. UVa-Wise 27
