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Women's Cross Country Tabbed No. 18 in Preseason National Poll
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Aug. 28, 2012
USTFCCCA Release
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NEW ORLEANS—The Virginia women’s cross country team has been ranked No. 18 in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national preseason poll. In addition, the two-time defending NCAA Southeast Regional champions have been tabbed No. 1 in the preseason Southeast Region poll.
On the men’s side, the Cavaliers received votes in the national poll and are ranked No. 8 in the preseason Southeast Region poll.
The women’s squad returns three members that scored at the NCAA Championships, including sophomore Chelsea Ley (Woolwich Township, N.J.), who earned All-Southeast Region honors in 2011, junior Katherine Walker (Stafford, Va.) and sophomore Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg, Va.). In addition, UVa returns junior Barbara Strehler (Richmond, Va.), who earned All-ACC honors a year ago.
Virginia also sees the return of graduate student Catherine White (Roanoke, Va.), who finished fourth at the 2009 national meet and placed 10th in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The Cavalier men return four of their top five from a year ago, including graduate student Mark Amirault (Walpole, Mass.), who finished 27th at the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors. Also returning are fifth-year senior Sean Keveren (Brentwood, Tenn.) who placed 18th in the 10,000 meters at the national outdoor track and field meet, junior Chris Foley (Chantilly, Va.), who earned silver in the 5,000 meters at the ACC indoor meet, and sophomore Drew Paisley (Virginia Beach, Va.), who set personal records in three events during the outdoor season.
Virginia will also be boosted by sophomore Kyle King (Yorktown, Va.), who did not compete during the cross country season but represented the United States at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in the 5,000 meters, placing 13th.
The Cavaliers open the 2012 season 6 p.m. Friday with the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.