Women's Cross Country Picked Second by NEC Coaches
The Blue Devils collected four first-place votes in the preseason poll.
The Central Connecticut women's cross country team collected four first-place votes and was tabbed second in the Northeast Conference Coaches Preseason Poll it was announced Friday. The Blue Devils were one of three programs to collect first-place votes and were slotted just behind defending champion Saint Francis U.
The women's cross country team opens the season on Saturday, September 9, at the Minutemen Invitational in Amherst, MA. CCSU will host the 2017 NEC Championships on October 28 at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, CT.
Head coach Eric Blake will be looking to guide the Blue Devils to their first league title since 1999. Leading the for the Central runners will be senior Brittany Mendelson, the two-time defending NEC individual hcampion. Juniors Madeline Mondo and Dawn Hubbell are also back after finishing sixth and 10th, respectively, at last year's championships en route to earning All-NEC honors with Mendelson.
Saint Francis U. picked up three first-place votes and edged out Central by seven points to be tabbed the preseason NEC favorite. Sacred Heart picked up the final three first-place votes and were slated third in the poll. The Pioneers had a three-year reign as league champion halted by the Red Flash last year.