Men's Cross Country Picked Second in ACC Preseason Poll

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Aug 29, 2013

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Thursday the preseason men’s and women’s cross country conference poll of the league’s coaches. The Virginia men were picked second and the Virginia women were selected seventh.

The men received two of the 14 first place votes and finished second in the poll behind conference newcomer Syracuse. Florida State (third), NC State (fourth) and Notre Dame (fifth) rounded out the top five. The Cavaliers, who finished second at last year’s ACC Championships, return three runners who helped the team win the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship: sophomore Kyle King (Yorktown, Va.), junior Drew Paisley (Virginia Beach, Va.) and senior Thomas Porter (Fredericksburg, Va.). Also returning is sophomore Connor Rog (Fairfield, Conn.), the 2012 ACC Freshman of the Year.

The women were seventh the poll, behind Florida State (first), Duke (second), Notre Dame (third), NC State (fourth), Syracuse (fifth) and Boston College (sixth). The Cavaliers, who finished sixth at last year’s ACC Championships, return five of the six athletes who competed in that meet. Sophomore Audrey Batzel (Virginia Beach, Va.), senior Vicky Fouhy (Buckinghamshire, England), junior Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg, Va.), senior Barbara Strehler (Richmond, Va.) and senior Katherine Walker (Stafford, Va.) will lead this year’s squad.

The teams begin the 2013 season on Friday as they host the Virginia Duals at Panorama Farms. Both the men’s and women’s teams will run a 4K race against athletes from Liberty and Radford. The men’s race will begin at 5 p.m., and the women’s race will begin at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.

2013 Men’s Cross Country Pre-Season Poll

1-Syracuse (10)     1912-Virginia (2)      1633-Florida State (2) 1594-NC State          1565-Notre Dame        1506-Duke              1247-Virgnia Tech      1188-North Carolina    959-Wake Forest       8110-Georgia Tech     6011-Clemson          5912-Boston College   4913-Pittsburgh       3114-Miami            20

2013 Women’s Cross Country Pre-Season Poll

1-Florida State (8) 2132-Duke (6)          2123-Notre Dame (1)    1884-NC State          1745-Syracuse          1676-Boston College    1497-Virginia          1378-North Carolina    1339-Wake Forest	    10210-Virginia Tech    8811-Clemson          7912-Georgia Tech     5913-Maryland         4914-Pittsburgh       3215-Miami            18