August 25 – Both the Oberlin College men's and women's cross teams were picked to finish third in the North Coast Athletic Conference as voted on by the league's coaches.
The Yeowomen totaled 66 points and two first-place votes in the poll. The women's team is strong and has sound depth from top to bottom. Sophomore sensation
Joanna Johnson is the reigning NCAC Champion and Runner of the Year. Johnson clocked in at 22:48 at the conference championships and went on to place 89th at the NCAA Championships during her first collegiate season.
After taking last year off to study abroad, senior
Nicky Ouellet returns to help bolster the squad. First-years
Christine Moore and
Nina Cole along with sophomore
Hillary Tipton are also expected to make large contributions.
Conor Doss and
Ryan King lead a senior-laden men's team that garnered 74 points in the poll. Doss, a 2007 All-NCAC selection, finished 20th at the championship meet (27:00) last season.
Fellow seniors
Everett Schlawin and
Colin Anderson also look to build off of their strong performances a year ago.
Allegheny College took first place in both polls with the women earning 72 points (4 first-place votes), while the Gators men's team registered all 10 first-place votes for 100 total points.
Oberlin begins its season this Saturday at the Case Western Reserve Invitational. The women's 5k will get underway at 11 a.m. with the men's 8k to follow at 11:45.
NCAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Allegheny (4)....................................................72
2. Kenyon (2)........................................................67
3. Oberlin (2)........................................................66
4. Ohio Wesleyan (1)..........................................65
5. Denison............................................................39
Wittenberg............................................................39
7. Wooster............................................................29
8. Earlham............................................................19
9. Hiram..................................................................9
NCAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Allegheny (10)................................................100
2. Ohio Wesleyan.................................................79
3. Oberlin...............................................................74
4. Denison.............................................................72
5. Kenyon..............................................................67
6. Wabash.............................................................58
7. Wooster.............................................................35
8. Wittenberg........................................................31
9. Earlham............................................................24
10. Hiram..............................................................10
