Aug. 29, 2011

2011 Men's and Women's Cross Country Record Book

Center Valley, Pa. -- The Navy men's and Colgate women's cross country teams have been selected to repeat as champions in 2011 Preseason Men's and Women's Cross Country Poll, announced Monday. The preseason polls are voted on by the coaches and the sports information directors.

The Navy Midshipmen, who won their third straight men's title last season, earned 98 points and 14 first-place votes in the preseason poll. American got the other two first-place votes, finishing second with 84 points. Army followed with 75 points, and Colgate (54) edged out Lehigh (51) for fourth place. Bucknell (46), Holy Cross (25) and Lafayette (15) rounded out the poll.

The Colgate women, who won their first title last season, recorded 96 points and 12 first-place votes to top the preseason poll. Bucknell (86) and Navy (74) each received two first-place votes to finish second and third in the poll. Army was fourth with 58 points, and Lehigh (43), American (39) and Holy Cross (37) were separated by six points. Lafayette finished eighth with 15 points.

The Raiders return three of their four All-League runners from last season, including the individual champion, senior Elise DeRoo, and the individual runner-up, senior Chelsea Burns. Kendall Lyons, who placed 13th at last season's championship, also returns.

DeRoo, who has won two straight individual titles, will look to win a third title this season when the Patriot League Championships take place Oct. 29 at Lehigh University. She also will look to return the NCAA Championships, where she finished 100th last season. DeRoo was the 2010 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year and she has won four total scholar-athlete awards in cross country and track and field.

On the men's side, Navy loses two-time individual champion Andrew Hanko, but returns four All-League runners from last season, including three former Rookies of the Year -- senior Jeremy Haney, junior Dean Black and sophomore Clay Elward.

The season will begin Friday with American, Army, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Lehigh in action. Bucknell, Colgate and Navy open up Saturday.

Men's Cross Country
Team     Points (First-Place Votes)             
1. Navy                   98 (14)
2. American         84 (2)
3. Army               75
4. Colgate            54
5. Lehigh              51
6. Bucknell           46
7. Holy Cross        25
8. Lafayette         15

Women's Cross Country
Team     Points (First-Place Votes)             
1. Colgate             96 (12)
2. Bucknell          86 (2)
3. Navy              74 (2)
4. Army              58
5. Lehigh            43
6. American        39
7. Holy Cross      37
8. Lafayette        15
First-place votes in parentheses