Women’s Cross Country Tabbed as Favorites in CAA

Tribe Picked to Win Fourth-Straight Conference Championship

09/08/06 2:19PM

RICHMOND, VA - The Colonial Athletic Association today announced the results of the pre-season Coach’s Poll for women’s cross country, and the William and Mary Tribe was picked as the unanimous favorite to win the conference crown for a fourth consecutive year.

William and Mary received nine of the ten first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team), and totaled 81 points. James Madison earned the remaining first-place vote and was picked second, with 73 points. Georgia State was picked to repeat the third-place finish it achieved last year, its first in the CAA.

William and Mary returns seven of its top nine runners, including three-time all-conference honorees Meghan Bishop (Blue Bell, PA) and Julia Cathcart (Starkville, MS). Last year was a banner year for the team, as W&M returned to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2002 and placed 23rd. The 2006 season kicks off tomorrow with the Lou Onesty Invitational, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

2006 Colonial Athletic Association Pre-Season Coach’s Poll
Team (First-place Votes), Points
1. WILLIAM AND MARY (9) 81
2. James Madison (1), 73
3. Georgia State, 59
4. Delaware, 58
5. Towson, 44
6. Hofstra, 41
7. Northeastern, 39
8. UNC Wilmington, 27
9. Virginia Commonwealth, 15
10. George Mason, 13

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.