Men's and Women's Cross Country Picked Fifth in A-10 Poll

8/29/2018 3:01:00 PM | Men's Track/Cross Country, Women's Track/Cross Country

Men's team earns first-ever preseason regional ranking

WASHINGTON - Both GW men's and women's cross country teams were predicted to finish fifth in their respective preseason polls, announced Wednesday by the Atlantic 10.

The men's team, which tallied it's best-ever NCAA Regional performance of 14th a year ago, is picked to finish fifth in the league and has earned its first-ever preseason regional ranking, coming in at No. 14 in the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic poll. Three runners - senior Andrew Weber, junior Colin Wills, and sophomore Jackson Cronin - return after placing at last year's regional meet.

Dayton was projected to win the men's side, followed by Saint Joesph's, Duquesne, La Salle, and GW.

The women's team was also picked to finish fifth, trailing only preseason favorite Dayton, Richmond, Davidson, and Duquesne. Last year, GW finished sixth at the A-10 meet and went on to place 16th at the Mid-Atlantic regional.

All six runners who placed at the regional meet - senior Madison Yerke, senior Halley Brown, junior Suzanne Dannheim, senior Lesley Fatica, junior Rachel Gallivan, and sophomore Margaret Coogan - return for the Colonials in 2018.

Both teams will open the campaign on Friday at the Mount St. Mary's dual in Emmitsburg, Md. The first race is set to begin at 1 p.m.