Aug. 31, 2011
The Samford Cross Country program begins its season this week, with the women's team looking to win their third conference title and the men's team looking to capitalize on improved team unity.
"Our staff is very excited for what we can accomplish this year," said Distance Coach Lori Strand. "We want to defend our women's conference title and make it three in a row. Our overall goal is to keep everyone healthy. We've been conservative so far. Our men's team is beat up but we hope to have everyone back competing by mid-season."
Junior Lauren D'Alessio returns as the number-one runner on the women's side. She is coming off a stellar sophomore season where she was named First Team All-SoCon and finished in the top 25 at the NCAA South Regional, earning her All-Region accolades. The loss of Hilary Neal means that the door is open for multiple student-athletes to step up and contribute this season, such as sophomore Claire Grogan who was named to the 2010 SoCon All-Freshman team.
The women's team welcomes three new freshman: Francis Bernard, Marie Demedicis and Chelsea Treadway. They have arrived on campus fit and ready to perform, setting the stage for a heated battle to earn a trip to the SoCon Championships.
"We'll likely carry between seven and nine athletes to the conference meet," said Strand, "and it will be a battle to get into our top five. I think that's a good thing because it motivates them to work hard every single day to earn a spot on that bus to the conference meet."
The men's team will have to compete shorthanded early in the season, with multiple competitors out with injuries. Sophomore John Gayle broke his foot last season and is still not at 100 percent. Freshman Lucas Sieb is also battling injuries in the early stage and will look to rejoin the team in the middle of the season. Getting all seven competitors healthy down the home stretch of the season will be the key to their success.
"Every year, we want to improve," said Strand. "Every year we want to place a little higher at the conference meet and we hope to continue to build towards becoming a top-three team. That's definitely our ultimate goal."
Sophomore Layton Dorsett projects to be the team's top runner after a breakout freshman season last year. He and the other members of a small men's squad have come together as a team and that mentality could serve them well in the future. Along with Sieb, the team welcomes freshman Nicholas Cork out of Hendersonville, Tenn.
"We've had a really close-knit men's team this year," said Strand. "I'm really excited to see how they get together and work. We can do better than last year, even with the early injuries."
In the preseason poll, the women are picked second while the men are picked ninth. UNC Greensboro is the early favorite on the women's side while Appalachian State topped the men's list. The SoCon Championships will be held on Oct. 29 in Charleston, S.C.
The road to the SoCon Championships begins Thursday, Sept. 1 for the women as they face off against UAB in a dual meet in Birmingham, Ala. The men's team competes the following day at Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Ala.
2011 SoCon Cross Country Preseason Poll
Team (#1 Votes) - Points
Men
1. Appalachian State (10) - 100
2. UNC Greensboro (1) - 89
T3. Davidson - 78
T3. Chattanooga - 78
5. Furman - 62
6. Elon - 56
7. Western Carolina - 42
8. College of Charleston - 36
9. Samford - 35
10. The Citadel - 18
11. Wofford - 10
Women
1. UNC Greensboro (10) - 120
2. Samford (1) - 103
3. Appalachian State - 95
4. Elon - 93
5. College of Charleston (1) - 80
6. Furman - 73
T7. Davidson - 60
T7. Chattanooga - 60
9. Western Carolina - 45
10. Wofford - 25
11. The Citadel - 23
12. Georgia Southern - 14
