Coaches’ Tab W&L for Fifth Straight Cross Country Crown

Lynchburg, Bridgewater Round Out Top Three, Also Earn Top Markings

August 26, 2008

SALEM, Va. --- Washington and Lee University earned seven first place votes in the 2008 ODAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll, topping the annual survey with 95 total poll points.  Lynchburg College came away with two top billings and 83 total points while 2007 runner-up Bridgewater College trailed its Hornet counterparts with 82 points and the remaining top tally.

The Generals placed five runners on the All-ODAC cross country teams in 2007 in legging out a five-point victory of Bridgewater.  The title was the ninth overall and fourth consecutive for the Washington and Lee program.  Reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, John Tucker, returns three of the five all-conference performers for their senior campaigns.  Michael Welsh heads the group after finishing second overall in last year’s ODAC championship.  He’s joined by fellow first team finisher Vance Berry (6^th place) and Alex Jackson, who crossed the line in 13^th to earn a spot on the second team.

Lynchburg has won a conference-best 12 ODAC men’s cross country crowns and looks to return to the top of the podium for the first time since 2002.  While last year’s third place finisher will have to do without one of its two all-league runners, junior Ricky Flynn returns in search of his second straight individual title and ODAC Runner of the Year award.  The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native out-paced his closest competition by better than 33 seconds in Lexington last fall.

The Eagles have finished second to Washington and Lee each of the past two seasons.  Bridgewater hopes the course at Virginia Beach on November 1^st will provide its harriers with their first crown.  Three of the Eagles’ four All-ODAC runners should return to aid in that process with seniors Nathan Rittenhouse and Brandon Spalding leading the charge.  The duo finished fourth and fifth in the 2007 championship, respectively.

The 2008 ODAC Men’s Cross Country Championship is set for Saturday, November 1.  The event will be hosted by Virginia Wesleyan College.

Listed below is the 2008 ODAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC cross country, visit www.odaconline.com or any of the school websites.

2008 ODAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll

(#) Denotes first place votes