PAC releases men's and women's cross country preseason polls
Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director
GREENVILLE, Pa. (Aug. 22) – The Bethany College Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams were picked to finish eighth and ninth, respectively, in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) annual preseason coaches’ poll announced Tuesday afternoon.
Waynesburg University was unanimously selected number one on the women's side, while Washington & Jefferson College finished first in this year men's poll.
The Bison, led by seventh-year Head Coach Michael Guinn, will return an All-PAC performer on the men’s side in junior Jordan Castro (Wahiawa, Hawaii/Leilehua). Castro earned second-team honors last season after taking 10th place at the PAC Championships. Castro was joined by freshmen Andrew Weiss and Josh Sanderlin (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) as runners to watch on the men’s side this season.
The women will get a boost from senior Michaela Ross (Wahiawa, Hawaii/Leilehua), who returns to the squad after missing the last season while studying abroad. Ross led the Bison with a 24th place finish at the 2015 league championships and consistently posted some of the best times on the team two years ago.
Bethany will get its season underway on Friday, September 1 when they head to New Concord, Ohio to participate in the Muskingum Relays around 4 p.m.
The annual Bethany Invitational will follow, as the Bison welcome teams from across the region to the northern panhandle on Saturday, September 9 around 10 a.m.
| 2017 PAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish) | |
| School (first-place votes) | 2016 PAC Championships finish |
| 1. Waynesburg University (10) | 1st (of 10), 21 pts. |
| 2. Grove City College | 2nd (of 10), 59 pts. |
| 3. Saint Vincent College | 3rd (of 10), 105 pts. |
| 4. Geneva College | 4th (of 10), 141 pts. |
| 5. Washington & Jefferson College | 6th (of 10), 175 pts. |
| 6. Westminster College | 5th (of 10), 151 pts. |
| 7. Thomas More College | 7th (of 10), 210 pts. |
| 8. Chatham University | 10th (of 10), 242 pts. |
| 9. Bethany College | 9th (of 10), 231 pts. |
| 10. Thiel College | 8th (of 10), 211 pts. |
| 2017 PAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish) | |
| School (first-place votes) | 2016 PAC Championships finish |
| 1. Washington & Jefferson College (3) | 3rd (of 9), 92 pts. |
| 2. Saint Vincent College (5) | 1st (of 9), 47 pts. |
| 3. Grove City College | 2nd (of 9), 53 pts. |
| 4. Thomas More College (1) | 4th (of 9), 104 pts. |
| 5. Geneva College (1) | 5th (of 9), 106 pts. |
| 6. Waynesburg University | 6th (of 9), 160 pts. |
| 7. Westminster College | 7th (of 9), 203 pts. |
| 8. Bethany College | 8th (of 9), 207 pts. |
| 9. Chatham University | Individuals only |
| 10. Thiel College | 9th (of 9), 249 pts. |
