THOMASVILLE, N.C. -- Both cross country teams from Lees-McRae were voted the upcoming favorites in the CVAC cross country preseason poll by the league's head coaches. The Anderson women have been picked to finish second, and the Anderson men finished for a tie for fifth in their respective polls. The Lees-McRae women are seeking their seventh CVAC Championship in eight years. In order for that to take place Head Coach Craig McPhail believes it will have to come from a close knit team. Sophomores Leslie Thurman and Casey Willis will lead the way and newcomers Demarea Colson and Kathleen Wilkerson will join them to give the Bobcats a quality top four. Anderson is No. 2 in the women's poll. Anderson head cross country coach Aaron Schaffner hopes his incoming group of runners will make a major impact on the program. Schaffner credits sophomore Jennifer Hitt, who won the 2004 CVAC title to become the CVAC Runner & Freshmen of the Year Award winner, finished fourth in the regional meet, and participated in the NCAA Division II national meet. Hitt will be joined by one of the most talented runners in the history of cross country in South Carolina. Freshman Diana Williard tied a national record by winning six state titles in high school. "Jennifer and Diana will be battling up front," Schaffner said. "One weekend one will win, the next weekend the other will win. They should be great training partners and extremely competitive on race day." A solid mixture of youth and experience will lead the Queens University of Charlotte cross country team in their quest for a CVAC Championship. First-year coach Michael Bell is excited about moving the Queens program forward this season. With four freshmen added for the 2005 season, the Royals are ready for the challenge. The Royals also return four runners who finished in the Top 25 from last year's CVAC Championship. On the men's side, Lees-McRae also is the top pick. The Bobcats are going to be young in 2005 as they try to reload with a quality recruiting class. Two-time All-CVAC runner and junior Lewis Martin will lead the Bobcats with senior Jeffrey Swicegood and sophomore Josh Blanc helping guide the group of freshmen. Daniel Stephens, Matthew Barrett, Sebron Jessup, Joey Faitella, Brett Collins and Jake Allen are newcomers to the Bobcats squad and will be looked to give them quality depth. The St. Andrews Presbyterian College men's cross country team wants to improve on its best season in its history after finishing second in the 2004 CVAC Championships. The Knights had a historic season last year winning two races -- the University of South Carolina Invitational and the UNC Pembroke Invitational. SAPC also finished second in four other races including the CVAC Championship. Head Coach Gary Aycock added four freshmen to balance out a lineup that consists of four talented upperclassmen. The Knights return the 2004 CVAC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and NCAA Southeast All-Region runner Chris Miller. Junior Tim Bourke, a two-time Second Team All-Conference and 2003 All-Region runner, will contend for the top spot on the Knights lineup. Sophomore Adam Vick will post solid times all season and Devon Gillis will provide leadership and experience to the team as the only senior. Pfeiffer, third in the men's poll, returns all of its runners from last year and has added five freshmen. New head coach Travis Anderson believes the team has improved a great deal during the off-season. CVAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Season Poll (# of First Place Votes in Parenthesis) 1. Lees-McRae (11) 121 T-2. Anderson 103 T-2 Queens (1) 103 T-5 Barton 78 T-5 Pfeiffer 78 6. Converse 62 7. St. Andrews 59 8. Belmont Abbey 52 9. Coker 51 10. Erskine 49 11. Mt. Olive 22 12. Limestone 14 CVAC Men's Cross Country Pre-Season Poll (# of First Place Votes in Parenthesis) 1. Lees-McRae (5) 85 2. St. Andrews (2) 76 3. Pfeiffer (1) 62 4. Coker 60 T5. Anderson 59 T5. Barton 59 7. Queens 48 8. Erskine 35 9. Belmont Abbey 33 10. Mt. Olive 23 11. Limestone 10