Women's XC Tabbed Tied For Third in NEC
The Central Connecticut women's cross country team was voted to finish tied for third in the Northeast Conference in the 2014 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
The Central Connecticut women's cross country team was voted to finish tied for third in the Northeast Conference in the 2014 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced Friday.
Sacred Heart received seven-of-ten first place votes and was predicted to defend its 2013 NEC title as the Pioneers landed on top of the coaches poll. Bryant was slated to finish second with one first place vote followed by Central Connecticut and Mount St. Mary's in a tie for third. The Blue Devils recieved two first place votes from fellow NEC coaches.
The last time CCSU finished in the top three of the NEC was in 2001 when the squad placed third, just behind Saint Francis U. and Sacred Heart. The Blue Devils will look to better that performance when they host the 2014 NEC Championships at Stanley Quarter Park on Nov. 1.
Last season, the Blue Devils were led by junior Shannon McBride to a sixth place finish in the NEC Championships. McBride individually finished in twelfth place and earned All-NEC honors.
The Blue Devils return eleven runners, including seniors Krisztina Dearborn and Elizabeth Eberhardt who sat out last season. In the 2012 NEC Championships Dearborn and Eberhardt placed 13th and 14th respectively, and captured All-NEC honors.
The Blue Devils are set to open the 2014 season on August 30 at Marist University at 9 A.M. The first home meet of the season, the Ted Owen Invitational, will take place on Saturday, September 27 at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, CT.
2013 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Sacred Heart (7)
2. Bryant (1)
3. Central Connecticut (2)
Mount St. Mary's
5. Robert Morris
6. Saint Francis U
7. Wagner
8. Fairleigh Dickinson
9. Saint Francis Brooklyn
10. LIU Brooklyn
First place votes in parentheses