Story courtesy of Christa Parulis-Kaye, NECC Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations

For Immediate Release:
September 3, 2009

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Lesley University has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to capture the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's cross country championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the NECC's head women's cross country coaches.

Eight of the nine NECC members sponsor women's cross country.

The Lesley University Lynx received all eight of the first-place votes in the 2009 NECC preseason poll. The Lynx are led by head coach Dan Flynn.

Lesley returns seven runners including NECC Rookie of the Year junior Jasmine Cuevas (Bristol, N.H.), First team All NECC sophomore Elize McKelvey (Baltimore, Ohio), and sophomore Rachel Federico (Salem, Mass.).

Elms College received 48 points for  the runner-up spot.  Mitchell College and Newbury College tied for third place with 42 points apiece. Wheelock rounded out the top five with 31 points.

Teams received eight points for every first place vote received, seven points for second place votes, six points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.

2009 NECC PRESEASON WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY POLL

TEAM, POINTS(1st Place votes)

Lesley, 64(8)
Elms, 48                    
Newbury, 42
Mitchell, 42    
Wheelock, 31
Daniel Webster, 23
Bay Path, 20
Southern Vermont, 18