Conference

Click Here For Release In PDF Format
 

2012 Northeast Conference Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll   1.       Quinnipiac (10) 2.       Sacred Heart (1) 3.       Monmouth 4.       Central Connecticut 5.       Saint Francis (PA) 6.       Robert Morris 7.       Bryant 8.       Mount St. Mary’s 9.       Wagner 10.     St. Francis (NY) 11.     Fairleigh Dickinson   First Place Votes in Parentheses ( )

SOMERSET, NJ — Quinnipiac won its seventh consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) women’s cross country championship last season, and is poised to capture an eighth, according to the league’s head coaches, who voted the Bobcats first in the preseason poll.
 
Quinnipiac garnered 10 first-place votes, followed by Sacred Heart, which received one first-place nod, and Monmouth. Central Connecticut was fourth, Saint Francis (PA) fifth and Robert Morris sixth. Bryant, Mount St. Mary’s and Wagner were tabbed seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, while St. Francis (NY) and Fairleigh Dickinson rounded out the 11-team field.
 
The Bobcats’ seven straight NEC crowns mark the longest active title streak in the conference and is tied for the longest streak in league annals (Mount St. Mary’s women’s tennis, 1989-95). Quinnipiac, which placed 20th at the 2011 NCAA Northeast Regional, is backed by three All-Conference selections. The Bobcats also return four runners who placed in the top-15 and six in the top-30 at last year’s NEC Championship.
 
Senior Andrea Szarkowizc (Watertown, CT/Watertown) is Quinnipiac’s top returner, finishing in 6th place at the 2011 NEC meet, clocking in at 19:10.80, which earned her an All-Conference nod.
 
Sophomores and sisters Brianna Faust and Amanda Faust (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) were also All-Conference selections, after placing 7th (19:16.50) and 11th (19:23.90), respectively, at the championship. Others who add depth for Quinnipiac are Jessica Soja (Simsbury, CT/ Simsbury), Christina Faust (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) and Jill Humphreys (Burlington, MA/Burlington).
 
The 2012 Northeast Conference Women’s Cross Country Championship will take place at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI on Oct. 27.
 
 
SEASON STORYLINES
 
• Quinnipiac’s seven titles are the most in NEC history. In addition, the Bobcats have fielded the most individual champions with six.
• In the past seven years Quinnipiac has won the NEC Championship, only twice has the individual champion come from a different school—Sacred Heart in 2009 and Central Connecticut in 2011.
• Three teams competed in the NCAA Northeast Regional last season. Quinnipiac placed 20th, Sacred Heart 24th and Central Connecticut 26th.
• At the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, Monmouth led all NEC teams with a 16th place showing, followed by Robert Morris in 20th and Saint Francis (PA) in 23rd.
 
TEAM BY TEAM
 
Bryant
Bryant, lead by head coach and 2012 Olympian Stephanie Reilly, finished seventh last season at the NEC Championship—one spot better than the previous year—and look to keep climbing the NEC ladder.
 
Runner to Watch: Junior Eimear Black (Glengormley, Ireland/Dominican College Fortwilliam) was the second place finisher at the championship last season with a time of 18.47.40. Black was the NEC Athlete of the Week on one occasion and paced the Bulldogs in all of her six races.
 
Central Connecticut
Central Connecticut ran to fourth place at the 2011 NEC Championship, and return a strong team despite losing 2011 NEC individual champion Alasia Griebel to graduation.
 
Runner to Watch: Junior Krisztina Dearborn (Tuftonboro, NH/Brewster Academy) placed 13th with a time of 19:31.40 for a spot on the All-Conference team.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson
The Knights look to raise the bar in 2012 under the direction of head coach Sharlene Milwood-Lee, an NEC Hall of Famer who enters her 10th year at the helm.
 
Runner to Watch: Junior Keyana Hynds (Bronx, NY/A. Philip Randolph) is the top returner for Fairleigh Dickinson after pacing the Knights at the NEC Championship, UAlbany Invitational and Fordham Invitational last season.
 
Monmouth
Head coach Joe Compagni and the Hawks have claimed a spot on the podium each year since 2007 and placed third a year ago. Monmouth will look to win its first title since the 2000 season.
 
Runner to Watch: Senior Kelsey Maher (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) finished 10th at the 2011 championship in 19:23.20 to earn All-NEC accolades for the second straight season. 
 
Mount St. Mary’s
Mount St. Mary’s finished the 2011 season with an eighth-place showing at the NEC Championship. The Mount returns an experienced team of 12 runners.
 
Runner to Watch: Senior Megan Kinsella (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) will contribute experience to the Mount. The former NEC Rookie of the Year finished 30th at the NEC meet last season to lead her teammates in a time of 20:06.20.
 
Robert Morris
Robert Morris turned in a sixth place finish last season. The Colonials welcome back nine harriers who will be joined by two freshman.
 
Runner to Watch: Sophomore Marissa Polk (Pittsburgh, PA/Oakland Catholic) was the NEC Freshman of the Year, securing the top finish of any newcomer in addition to pacing the Colonials with her 17th place finish in a time of 19:44.30
 
Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart was the runner-up at the 2011 NEC Championship and return seven athletes, including two all-conference runners, with hopes of taking back a title that has eluded them since 2004.
 
Runner to Watch: Junior Brittney Lane (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich Central) gave the Pioneers their top finish at the conference meet with her fourth place showing in 19:00.30. Lane was also the NEC Athlete of the Week twice last season.
 
St. Francis (NY)
St. Francis (NY) improved one spot to finish in 10th place one season ago. Head coach Kyle Brown and the Terriers return seven athletes and welcome one freshman to the team.
 
Runner to Watch: Senior Mary Gallagher (Belle Harbor, NY/Bishop Kearney) took the top spot for St. Francis (NY) at the NEC Championship after finishing in 48th place.
 
TEAM BY TEAM (cont’d.)
 
Saint Francis (PA)
Head Coach Doug Hoover brings new leadership new to the Red Flash, who placed fifth at the 2011 NEC Championship.
 
Runner to Watch: Senior Jennifer Haffner (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) was an All-NEC honoree for her ninth place finish in 19:22. She was also second for the Red Flash at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.
 
Wagner
The Seahawks seek to improve their standing at the season’s end after finishing ninth at the NEC event in 2011.
 
Runner to Watch: Junior Alexis Bivona (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) had the top finish for Wagner a year ago, placing 22nd in 19:49.70. Bivona paced the Seahawks in four of her six races.