Aug. 27, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's women's cross country team has been named the favorite for the 2008 season, according to the America East Conference preseason poll. The women's team received seven of the possible eight first-place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and a combined 63 total points. The Seawolves' men's cross country team was picked second, finishing just two points behind first-place New Hampshire.

After claiming the America East team championship last season, the women's cross country team seems poised for a repeat with four of its top five runners returning. Juniors Jessica Hampson (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Laura Huet (Carrickmines, Ireland) and sophomores Holly Van Dalen (Wanganui, New Zealand) and Lucy van Dalen (Wanganui, New Zealand) headline a crop of young talented runners looking to make a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships.

On the men's side, the America East individual champion, junior Alex Felce (Stroud, England), will lead a team in search of its first conference championship. Sophomore Tim Hodge (Tawa, New Zealand) and junior Daire Bermingham (Portmarnock, Ireland) and the rest of the Seawolves fell just two points shy of last year's team title, which should serve as plenty of motivation for this season.

The cross country teams open their seasons this Friday at Stony Brook when they host the Seawolves Invitational. Start time is 3:00 p.m.

Women's Poll
1. Stony Brook (7) 63
T-2. Boston University (2) 52
T-2. New Hampshire 52
4. Binghamton 40
5. Maine 39
6. Albany 25
7. UMBC 24
8. Vermont 20
9. Hartford 9

Men's Poll
1. New Hampshire (5) 61
2. Stony Brook (3) 59
T-3. UMBC (1) 41
T-3. Maine 41
5. Binghamton 39
6. Boston University 38
7. Albany 20
8. Vermont 17
9. Hartford 8