LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Mercyhurst College women’s cross country team was tabbed 14th in the 2010 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday by PSAC officials. The Lakers finished ahead of local-rival Gannon and Cheyney.
Two-time defending PSAC champion Shippensburg was picked as the unanimous favorite with all 16 first-place votes. The Lady Eagles won their fourth overall crown last season and will look to three-peat with the return of two-time PSAC Athlete of the Year Neely Spence.
Slippery Rock improved one spot on their 2009 PSAC Championship finish by coming in second. Kutztown was picked third, while Lock Haven and Bloomsburg rounded out the top-5 in spots No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
Despite the loss of All-American Christie Turak, the Lakers return a slew of talented runners for the upcoming season, including seniors
Jennifer Mieczkowski and
Cherie Jackson. Mieczkowski placed 59th at the 2009 championship with a time of 25:12, while Jackson posted a mark of 26:19, good enough for 84th place.
Sophomore
Jennifer Hoobler also will look to bolster the Lakers’ roster after a successful rookie showing at the event.
Mercyhurst will use the next couple of weeks to prepare for its upcoming season, with it slated to open on Saturday, Sept. 11 at the 2010 Lock Haven Invitational.
2010 PSAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Shippensburg (16)
2. Slippery Rock
3. Kutztown
4. Lock Haven
5. Millersville
6. Bloomsburg
7. Edinboro
8. Mansfield
T9. Clarion
T9 . IUP
11. California
12. East Stroudsburg
13. West Chester
14. Mercyhurst
15. Gannon
16. Cheyney