August 21, 2014

Carson-Newman women’s picked to finish 9th in SAC preseason poll

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After finishing the 2013 campaign placed 10th at the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championships, the Carson-Newman women’s cross country team received a ninth-place showing in the 2014 preseason SAC coaches’ poll.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After finishing the 2013 campaign placed 10^th at the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championships, the Carson-Newman women's cross country team received a ninth-place showing in the 2014 preseason SAC coaches' poll.

"(The rankings) are just a TV kind of thing. People want to have a feel good story. All we want to do is just improve every day," cross country coach Tony Parrilla said. "And if the best product that we can put out is fifth or sixth place, that's the best product we can do. But as long as we can do the best we can, I'm going to be happy with that but not definitely never satisfied."

Sara Honaker, Rachel Hutson and Aiyana Martino are the only returning members of the 2013 squad, while four freshmen: Duncan Sparks, Amber Farmer, Tori Gaul and Sarah Sharp, gives Parrilla a seven-member women's team.

Wingate is the favorite to win the women's title going back-to-back after winning the 2013 SAC title, receiving 121 points. Queens received a second-place result with 110 points and Mars Hills placed third with 97 points.

Anderson and Lenior-Rhyne came in fourth and fifth places. Brevard received 69 points, placing them sixth. Lincoln Memorial and Catawba finished ahead of Carson-Newman, coming in seventh and eighth places respectfully. Lenior-Rhyne received a single first-place vote.

The Eagles received 39 points in the preseason poll, finishing ahead of Tusculum, Coker and Newberry.

Carson-Newman cross country will host the Orange/Blue meet Saturday, August 23^rd at Greene Farm in Jefferson City before the team's first competitive meet at the Victor Ashe Meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville, Tenn. on September 6^th.

2014 Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll

School	Total
1. Wingate (11)	121
2. Queens	110
3. Mars Hill	97
4. Anderson	91
5. Lenior-Rhyne (1)	86
6. Brevard	69
7. Lincoln Memorial	59
8. Catawba	44
9. Carson-Newman	39
10. Tusculum	32
11. Coker	23
12. Newberry	21