LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug. 21) – The California University of Pennsylvania men’s and women’s cross country team were picked to finish 11th and 14th, respectively, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in a preseason vote of the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced on Friday.
On the men’s side, Edinboro was the preseason favorite and received 12 of 16 first-place votes after winning back-to-back PSAC Championships. Lock Haven received the four other first-place votes to finish second, followed by Shippensburg at third. Slippery Rock and IUP rounded out the top five.
In the women’s poll, Shippensburg was the unanimous choice as the Raiders earned all 16 first-place votes after winning both the PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships in 2008. Slippery Rock and Edinboro finished second and third, respectively, followed by Kutztown and Millersville.
The Vulcans, under third-year head coach
Daniel Caulfield, enter the season with the largest women’s team in recent program history. Cal U opens the 2009 campaign by hosting its 38th-annual invitational next Saturday, Sept. 5, in nearby Belle Vernon, Pa.
PSAC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
| Rank |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Edinboro (12)*
|
| 2. |
Lock Haven (4)^
|
| 3. |
Shippensburg |
| 4. |
Slippery Rock |
| 5. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
| 6. |
East Stroudsburg
|
| 7. |
Bloomsburg |
| 8. |
Mansfield |
| 9. |
Millersville |
| 10. |
Kutztown |
| 11. |
California (Pa.) |
| 12. |
West Chester |
| 13. |
Mercyhurst |
| 14. |
Gannon |
| 15. |
Cheyney |
PSAC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL
| Rank |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Shippensburg (16)*^
|
| 2. |
Slippery Rock
|
| 3. |
Edinboro |
| 4. |
Kutztown |
| 5. |
Millersville
|
| 6. |
Lock Haven
|
| 7. |
Bloomsburg |
| 8. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
| 9. |
Mercyhurst |
| 10. |
Mansfield |
| 11. |
Clarion |
| 12. |
East Stroudsburg |
| 13. |
West Chester |
| 14. |
California (Pa.) |
| 15. |
Gannon |
| 16. |
Cheyney |
* - won 2008 PSAC Championship
^ - won 2008 NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship