SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's cross country team has been picked to finish second at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships this season, as announced in the Preseason Coaches Poll released by the league office Wednesday. The Rock was picked to finish third at the NCAA Atlantic Regional championships, as announced in the preseason NCAA Division II regional rankings.
Defending PSAC and Regional champion Shippensburg was the unanimous favorite in both the conference poll and the regional rankings, earning all 16 first-place votes from the league's head coaches. The Rock ranked second in the PSAC poll and third in the regional rankings, while Kutztown was third in the league poll and second in the regional rankings.
Lock Haven, Millersville, Bloomsburg, Edinboro, Mansfield, Clarion and Indiana (Pa.) rounded out the top-10 in the PSAC poll. The regional rankings were dominated by the PSAC with no schools from any other conferences breaking into the top-10.
Head coach
John Papa is set to open his 24th season at the helm of The Rock program this fall and will welcome one of the largest cross country rosters in the NCAA with 35 runners. Among the 35 on the roster, 23 have collegiate racing experience as a member of the SRU cross country or track and field teams.
Headlining the way for the returnees is graduate student
Jen Harpp, who is looking to cap one of the most decorated careers in SRU cross country history. Harpp already owns the highest finish for an SRU runner at the NCAA Division II National Championships, courtesy of her 11th-place finish last season. That performance earned her All-America honors. She was the top finisher for SRU in every meet she ran in, including the PSAC and Regional meets, where she earned All-Conference and All-Region honors.
Also returning this season is All-Conference and All-Region performer
Crystal Burnick. Burnick placed 12th at the league meet and bettered that with a 10th-place finish at the regional meet.
Abby Michaelian capped an impressive freshman season in 2009 by earning All-Conference honors with a 20th-place finish. She narrowly missed All-Region accolades, finishing 18th in her first major championship race.
Becky Younger was The Rock's fourth finisher at the PSAC meet (33rd), while
Caitlin Hancox was the fifth-place finisher at the Regional meet (55th).
SRU will have to replace only one scorer from last season's championship meets with the departure of
Jen Pace, who was the fifth finisher at the league meet and fourth finisher at regionals.
The Rock's season will unofficially open this Saturday (Aug. 28) at the annual Alumni Race, hosted on campus. The first official meet of the year will be the Seagull Invitational, hosted by Salisbury University in Maryland Sept. 4.
The 2010 schedule features five meets before the conference championships, including two races at SRU's home course at Cooper's Lake Campground. The Rock will host a quad meet Sept. 17 and an Invitational Oct. 2.
The PSAC Championships will be hosted by California (Pa.) Nov. 6, followed by the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional meet Nov. 20 in Cary, N.C. and the NCAA Division II Championships Dec. 4 in Louisville, Ky.
2010 PSAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Shippensburg (16)
2. Slippery Rock
3. Kutztown
4. Lock Haven
5. Millersville
6. Bloomsburg
7. Edinboro
8. Mansfield
T9. Clarion
T9. Indiana (Pa.)
11. California (Pa.)
12. East Stroudsburg
13. West Chester
14. Mercyhurst
15. Gannon
16. Cheyney
2010 NCAA DII Atlantic Region Preseason Rankings
(as voted on by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association)
1. Shippensburg
2. Kutztown
3. Slippery Rock
4. Bloomsburg
5. Edinboro
6. Millersville
7. Lock Haven
8. Mansfield
9. Indiana (Pa.)
10. East Stroudsburg
