Simon Fraser Women Return to Top of NAIA Women's Preseason Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Simon Fraser (B.C.) has been selected as the No. 1 team in the NAIA Women's Cross Country Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the NAIA announced Wednesday. The Clan received 11-of-21 first-place votes and earned 573 points. Cedarville University (Ohio) is ranked second, followed by Biola University (Calif.), Concordia University (Calif.) and Malone University (Ohio) to round out the top five.
The Golden State Athletic Conference is highly visible in the preseason poll with five ranked institutions. A trio of schools are listed among the top 10 in No. 3 Biola, No. 4 Concordia, defending national champion and seventh-ranked Azusa Pacific (Calif.), No. 13 Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) and No. 25 Vanguard University(Calif.).
Simon Fraser, easily coined as the most storied NAIA women's cross country program, returns to the top of the poll for the first time since Nov. 5, 2007. Despite an 11th-place showing at the 2008 national race, the Clan is gunning for its 11th national title in program history by returning key members that did not compete in 2008. Among those back in 2009 are a pair of seniors, Ali Hudson and Heather Mancell, who were members of the 2005, 2006 and 2007 title runs. Also returning are sophomores Jessica Smith, who was an All-American in 2007, and Helen Croft, who finished 49th a year ago.
Earning six first-place votes and 563 points is second-ranked Cedarville. The Yellow Jackets captured runner-up honors to Azusa Pacific last year in Kenosha, Wis., at the national championships with four runners earning All-America honors. For 2009 though, only one of those All-Americans, senior Lydia Wong, returns. Wong's presence and leadership is going to be a major factor for Cedarville, as she is the lone senior on a squad composed of four sophomores and nine freshmen.
Ranked third with 560 points, including four first-place votes, is Biola. The Eagles are aiming to improve upon their 12th-place finish in Kenosha in 2008. Even though Biola did not have an All-American on their squad, the Eagles did not lose one competitor to graduation and bring back a strong core for 2009. Leading the way will be seasoned juniors Sarah Brooks, Danielle Calhoun, Kelsey Gasner, Katie Thede and Erika Perez. Thede and Bowman each placed among the top-100 last year at 76th and 92nd, respectively.
Fellow GSAC member Concordia is ranked fourth after earning 523 points in the preseason poll. Sophomores Violet Mokaya and Rocio Pelayo are eyeing their second All-America accolade after finishing 10th and 16th, respectively last season.
Rounding out the top-five preseason teams is Malone with 508 points. The Pioneers, who tied for fourth last year, lost All-American Kathryn Bagley to graduation, but return All-American Kalie Hauenstein for her senior campaign. Hauenstein's senior counterparts Rebekh Genter and Sarah Hines will play key roles if the Pioneers are to vie for another high finish at the national race.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences. The first regular season poll of the 2009 season will be released on Sept. 16.