Lady Railsplitters Picked To Finish Fifth, Railsplitters Eighth In SAC Preseason Poll
August 20, 2010
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Lincoln Memorial University women's and men's cross country teams are picked to finished fifth and eighth, respectively, in the South Atlantic Conference, in a vote of the league's head coaches. One male and three female LMU runners were named to preseason all-conference teams.
The Lady Railsplitters, who finished third in the SAC Championships last season, received 59 points. LMU junior Sofia Lopez Mimendi (Mexico City, Mexico) was named to the preseason All-SAC first team. Junior Fiona Reinecke (Knoxville, Tenn.) and sophomore Ashley Robbins (Middlesboro, Ky.) are preseason second team All-SAC selections.
Lopez Mimendi finished second in last season's SAC Championship, where she finished with a time of 20:15. It was the best finish ever by a LMU female runner in the SAC Championship. Lopez Mimendi had a banner sophomore campaign as she posted three top five finishes in seven competitive meets. She captured the title at the Trailblazer Invitational, came in second in the SAC Championship and third in the Berea Invitational.
Reinecke posted top 10 finishes in the Berea Invitational and the Trailsblazer Invitational last season. Her 13th place finish at the SAC Championships earned her second team All-SAC accolades.
Robbins posted a career-best time of 22:06 at the SAC Championships last season, which earned her a spot on the SAC All-Freshman team.
Lenoir-Rhyne University, which has won the last two South Atlantic Conference women’s cross country championships, is the unanimous choice to capture the 2010 title, in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Bears received all 10 first place votes and 100 total points. Lenoir-Rhyne also placed four on the preseason All-Conference team.
Leading the way for the Bears is returning SAC Runner of the Year Kate Griewisch. She also was the Southeast Region runner of the year and earned All-American honors after finishing 19th in the NCAA Championship.
Joining Griewisch on the first team is Tiffany Payne, who finished fifth in last year’s conference championship. Liz Chaffee and Amanda Barnes were named to the second team.
Carson-Newman College is picked to finish second with 80 points. The Eagles placed three on the preseason All-Conference team. Brooke Earhart and Meredith Nix were named to the first team, while Melissa Ford was named to the second team. Nix finished third in last year’s conference championship.
First-year conference member Anderson University is picked to finish third. The Trojans received 76 points and will be led by preseason All-Conference selection Brooke Earhart. She was the Conference Carolinas cross country champion last season and earned All-American status by finishing 25th in the NCAA Championship.
Wingate University is picked to finish fourth with 74 points. The Bulldogs placed Alicia Harbold, who finished ninth in last year’s conference championship, on the preseason All-Conference first team.
Sixth place went to Catawba College with 52 points. Hannah Thomas, who placed 17th last year, was named to the preseason All-Conference second team.
Mars Hill College received 45 points for seventh place. Hannah Moore was named to the preseason All-Conference second team.
Brevard College (33 points), Newberry College (20 points) and Tusculum College (11 points) round out the poll.
The Railsplitters, who finished eighth in the SAC Championships last season, received 29. LMU junior Derrick Lindsay (Talbott, Tenn.) was named to the preseason All-SAC second team.
Lindsay, a member of the 2008 All-SAC Freshman and All-SAC second teams, is the top returning runner from last season's squad. He finished third in the Trailblazer Invitational, 10th in the Berea Invitational and 15th in the SAC Championships last year.
Mars Hill College, which has won 13 consecutive South Atlantic Conference men’s cross country championships, is the unanimous choice to capture the 2010 title, in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Lions received all 10 first place votes and 100 total points. The Lions are traditionally deep with running talent, and this year should be no exception. Mars Hill returns five runners named to the preseason All-Conference team. Kit Powell, Justin Gragg, Trey McCain and Aaron Thomas, who finished second, third, fourth and seventh in last year’s conference championship race, were named to the first team. Eric Blackburn, was named to the second team.
Lenoir-Rhyne University, which finished second last year, is picked to finish second in 2010. The Bears received 83 total points. The Bears placed four on the preseason All-Conference team. Tyler Mooney, who finished fifth last year, was named to the first team, while Jakob Maidens, Patrick Ryan and Zack Queen were named to the second team.
First-year conference member Anderson University received 71 points and is picked to finish third. The Trojans finished third last year in the Conference Carolinas championship.
Wingate University was close behind with 70 total points. The Bulldogs will host the 2010 Food Lion SAC Cross Country Championship.
Catawba College is fifth in the poll with 65 points. The Catawba Indians placed a pair of runners on the preseason All-Conference team. Christian Crifasi, the 2009 SAC Freshman Runner of the Year, was named to the first team, while Justin Smith was named to the second team.
Carson-Newman College is sixth in the poll with 48 points. Jonathan Madden was named to the preseason All-Conference second team.
Brevard College received 45 points for seventh place.
Newberry College is in ninth place with 24 points.
Tusculum College rounds out the poll with 15 points. The Pioneers do return the 2009 SAC Runner of the Year in Simon Holzapfel.
The 2010 Food Lion SAC Cross Country Championship will be November 6 at Wingate University.
2010 SAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Team 1st Pts
2. Lenoir-Rhyne (10) 100
3. Carson-Newman 80
4. Anderson 76
5. Wingate 74
6. Lincoln Memorial 59
7. Catawba 52
8. Mars Hill 45
9. Brevard 33
10. Newberry 20
Tusculum 11
2010 SAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Mars Hill (10) 100
2. Lenoir-Rhyne 83
3. Anderson 71
4. Wingate 70
5. Catawba 65
6. Carson-Newman 48
7. Brevard 45
8. Lincoln Memorial 29
9. Newberry 24
10. Tusculum 15
2010 SAC Cross Country Preseason All-Conference Teams
Women's First Team
Whitney Bishoff, Anderson
Brooke Earhart, Carson-Newman
Meredith Nix, Carson-Newman
Kate Griewisch, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tiffany Payne, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sofia Lopez Mimendi, Lincoln Memorial
Alicia Harbold, Wingate
Women's Second Team
Melissa Ford, Carson-Newman
Hannah Thomas, Catawba
Liz Chaffee, Lenoir-Rhyne
Amanda Barnes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Fiona Reinecke, Lincoln Memorial
Ashley Robbins, Lincoln Memorial
Hannah Moore, Mars Hill
Men's First Team
Christian Crifasi, Catawba
Tyler Mooney, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kit Powell, Mars Hill
Justin Gragg, Mars Hill
Trey McCain, Mars Hill
Aaron Thomas, Mars Hill
Simon Holzapfel, Tusculum
Men's Second Team
Jonathan Madden, Carson-Newman
Justin Smith, Catawba
Jakob Maidens, Lenoir-Rhyne
Patrick Ryan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Zack Queen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Derrick Lindsay, Lincoln Memorial
Eric Blackburn, Mars Hill
 Derrick Lindsay |  Sofia Lopez Mimendi |
 Fiona Reinecke |  Ashley Robbins |
