August 28, 2009

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Mars Hill College men's cross country team, which has won 12 consecutive championships, is the favorite heading into the 2009 season, in a vote of the league's head coaches.

The Mars Hill men's team received eight first-place votes and 80 of a possible 81 total points. The Lions also had three named to the preseason men's All-Conference team. Trey McCain (Leesville, S.C.), who was fifth in last year's Food Lion SAC Championship meet, is joined on the preseason All-Conference first team by Aaron Thomas (Seminole, Fla.) and Josh Corbin (Franklin, N.C.).

On the women's side, eight-time conference champion Mars Hill was picked to finish third with 57 points. The Lions had one preseason All-Conference selection in second-team pick Laurel Sitze (Raleigh, N.C.).

The Lenoir-Rhyne women's team was also a near unanimous choice to repeat their championship. The Bears received eight first-place votes and 80 points.

The Lions open the cross country season Saturday at the Erskine Invitational in Due West, S.C.

2009 SAC PRESEASON MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY POLL
1. Mars Hill (8) 80
2. Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 71
3. Wingate 61
4. Lincoln Memorial 47
5. Carson-Newman 38
6. Tusculum 35
7. Catawba 30
8. Brevard 23
9 Newberry 20
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2009 SAC PRESEASON WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY POLL
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (8) 80
2. Wingate (1) 63
3. Mars Hill 57
4. Carson-Newman 56
5. Catawba 46
6. Lincoln Memorial 32
7. Newberry 25
8. Brevard 23
Tusculum 23
(First place votes in parenthesis)

2009 SAC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS

Men's First Team
Jake Maidens, Lenoir-Rhyne
Trey McCain, Mars Hill
Aaron Thomas, Mars Hill
Josh Corbin, Mars Hill
Simon Holzapfel, Tusculum
David Sanctis, Wingate
Doug Coats, Wingate

Men's Second Team
Jonathan Madden, Carson-Newman
Ty Dannenbring, Lenoir-Rhyne
Jake Stuckey, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tyler Mooney, Lenoir-Rhyne
Derrick Lindsay, Lincoln Memorial
Tesfom Mehari, Wingate
RJ Voetsch, Wingate

Women's First Team
MaLeah Cole, Catawba
Kate Griewisch, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tiffany Payne, Lenoir-Rhyne
Alyssa Lowe, Lenoir-Rhyne
Miranda Annas, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sofia Lopez Mimendi, Lincoln Memorial
Mary-Kathryn Preble, Wingate

Women's Second Team
Cara Hawkins, Carson-Newman
Catelyn Dake, Carson-Newman
Laurel Sitze, Mars Hill
Jennifer Johnson, Newberry
Lindsey Lippencott, Wingate
Alicia Harbold, Wingate
Jen Bossi, Wingate

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