THOMASVILLE, N.C. -- The Lees-McRae women and men have been tabbed as the favors to win the 2004 CVAC cross country titles. The Anderson women were picked second in the coaches' poll, while the AC men came in seventh. The '04 CVAC championships will be held on Friday, Oct. 29, at Anderson's Pine Lake Golf Course. Lees-McRae's women's team returns six of its top seven runners while adding two newcomers who could run in the top five. Leading the way is senior Mairy Trexler, a three-time All-CVAC performer, and Angela Chappell, a two-time All-CVAC performer. Leslie Thurman, the 2003 Freshman of the Year, along with All-CVAC runners Casey Willis and Rebecca Johnson are poised to help the Bobcats make it their sixth CVAC title in seven years. Anderson College placed second in the women's poll. The AC women will be led by Ashley Smoak, who participated in the 2002 NCAA meet, and Kacey Harold, who has recovered from a stress fracture that hampered her last fall. In 2003, Smoak recorded three top-10 finishes and finished 13th in the CVAC meet, and Harold finished in the top five twice and came in 14th at the CVAC meet. Also returning to the lineup is Ashley Hughes, who finished in the top 20 in two meets. "I think we've got a really good women's team," new head coach Aaron Schaffner said. "We had our best recruiting year ever in terms of quality." The top newcomer is Jennifer Hitt, who picked Anderson over several Division I schools. "She had a great senior season in high school and will be a solid runner for us." Queens University of Charlotte was third in the women's poll. Queens will have a new look to the team this year as they add seven new faces into the program. Sarah Terry and Natasha Hansson return to anchor a talented but young team. In the men's poll, Lees-McRae also was the pick to take the '04 CVAC title. The Bobcats return three of their top five performers to go along with a host of talented runners. Brian Knapp is coming off a spring which saw him participate in the NCAA DII Outdoor Track National Championships and he will be pushed by senior Andrew Walton and last year's Freshman of the Year Lewis Martin. Pfeiffer is second in the poll. The Falcons are looking to replace five of their top seven runners from last year's squad that finished second in the CVAC Championship. Queens University of Charlotte is the pick to finish third. Though three out of their top four runners graduated, the Royals gladly welcome back Jonathan Keitt, who missed last season to serve the United States. Keitt is fit and strong and will provide senior leadership to a quality group of underclassmen who include Ryan Connelly, and David Pleines. CVAC Men's Cross Country Poll 1. Lees-McRae 2. Pfeiffer 3. Queens 4. Coker 5. St. Andrews 6. Barton 7. Anderson 8. Belmont Abbey 9. Erskine 10. Mount Olive 11. Limestone CVAC Women's Cross Country Poll 1. Lees-McRae 2. Anderson 3. Queens 4. Barton 5. Pfeiffer 6. St. Andrews 7. Coker 8. Erskine 9. Belmont Abbey 10. Mount Olive 11. Limestone