CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - The Patriot League preseason cross country polls were announced on Wednesday, after eight of the League's 10 programs opened competition over the weekend. Three-time defending PL Men's Champion Navy was selected as the unanimous favorite to capture the League title again. On the women's side, defending champion Bucknell was selected as the favorite to repeat over Navy and Boston University.
Men's Poll Results: The Mids earned 162 points and all 18 first place votes to take home the preseason honors. They return a strong lineup with two First Team All-Patriot League selections from a year ago, including individual champion senior Lucas Stalnaker, who completed the course at Colgate University in 25:00.2 and senior Hale Bullen (3
rd at PL Championships). Second team selections junior Cory Donley (12th) and senior Mitchell Pratt (13th) also return. Army finished second in the voting, receiving 135 points. The Black Knights return second team selection junior Nick Causey (10th). Boston University earned 129 points and have 2015 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Alexander Seal (8th) back in the fold. Lehigh was selected fourth with 114 points and returs second team selection junior Patrick Reilly (14th). Bucknell (89) round out the top five.
American was selected sixth in the preseason poll and return a pair of first team selections with senior Brendan Johnson (6th) and junior Alaeldin Tirba (7th). Holy Cross (60), Lafayette (49), Colgate (37) and Loyola Maryland (22) round out the poll.
Men's Preseason Cross Country Poll
- Navy, 162 (18 first-place votes)
- Army, 135
- Boston University, 129
- Lehigh, 114
- Bucknell, 89
- American, 60
- Holy Cross, 60
- Lafayette, 49
- Colgate, 37
- Loyola Maryland, 22
Women's Poll Results: The Bison women received 158 points and 14 first place votes, boasting the top three returning finishers from last season's Patriot League Women's Cross Country Championship. Senior Kate Scott (2nd at the 2015 PL Championship) is joined by junior Christine Bendzinski (3rd) and senior Sarah Chandler (4th) to give Bucknell a formidable lineup.
Navy earned 142 points and four first place votes, as they return the 2015 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Erin McDonnell (7th) along with sophomore Ali Valenti (10th). Boston University rounds out the top three with 126 points. Holy Cross (106) was fourth with senior Mary Walsh (8th) and junior Hannah Jeter (9th) both returning. Army (100) and Lehigh (88) check in at fifth and sixth, respectively. American (78) places sixth with sophomore Kassidy Ayres (11th) looking to build off a strong freshman campaign. Loyola Maryland (45), Lafayette (37) and Colgate (20) round out the poll.
Women's Preseason Cross Country Poll
- Bucknell, 158 (14 first-place votes)
- Navy, 142 (4)
- Boston University, 126
- Holy Cross, 106
- Army, 100
- Lehigh, 88
- American, 78
- Loyola Maryland, 45
- Lafayette, 37
- Colgate, 20
Voting was conducted by Patriot League cross country head coaches and sports information directors who could not select their own school. The 2016 Patriot League Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Lafayette College at the Metzgar Athletic Complex in Easton, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 29 with the women's race starting at 11 a.m. and the men's race starting at noon.
M-F Athletic Male Runner of the Week
Alaeldin Tirba, American University, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio
Tirba outran a field of 83 to claim the men's individual title at last Friday's Mount St. Mary's 5K Duals with a time of 15:30.5. Tirba, a 2015 First Team All-Patriot League selection, won the race by 12 seconds and helped the Eagles finish 3-1 in the round-robin dual meet scoring with wins over Mount St. Mary's, Franklin Pierce and UMBC.
M-F Athletic Female Runner of the Week
Kate Scott, Bucknell, Sr., Newtown, Pa.
Scott opened her season with an individual victory at the Bison open, finishing the 3-mile course in 16:51, 22 seconds faster than the second place finisher. The two-time All-Patriot League selection helped the Bison to convincing wins over Susquehana and Juniata to win their first meet of the season. The preseason favorite-Bison captured the first 11 spots in the race.
M-F Athletic Male Rookie of the Week
Drew Dorflinger, Bucknell, Fr., Pleasantville, N.Y.
Dorflinger made his collegiate debut by finishing second of 50 runners at the Bison Open. He completed the three-mile course in 14:44, five seconds behind the winner and teammate Ross Pirnie.
M-F Athletic Female Rookie of the Week
Hannah Bonaguidi, Lehigh, Fr., Frenchtown, N.J.
Bonaguidi won her collegiate debut, finishing first in a field of 57 runners at the Lehigh Invitational with a time of 21:32.5. The freshman surged during the second half of the race to earn the first place finish, 20 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Her win helped the Mountain Hawks finish second in the five-team field, behind only Delaware.
Honorable Mention
Jacob Fong, Army, Sr., Saginaw, Mich.
Fong led the Black Knights, finishing second in an 8K dual meet against Maine. He finished with a time of 25:50.16.
Ross Pirnie, Bucknell, Sr., Hilton, N.Y.
Pirnie finished first of 50 runners at the Bison Open, completing the three-mile course in 14:39.
Abby Halbrook, Army, Soph., Tyler, Texas
Halbrook crossed the finish line first in the Black Knight's 5K dual meet against Maine. She finished with a time of 18:46.33.
Emily Moore, Lafayette, Soph., Whitehouse Station, N.J.
Moore placed third of 64 runners in the 4K Monmouth XC Kickoff on Saturday morning. She finished the course in 14:52.11, nearly a minute faster than she finished the course in 2015, helping the Leopards place third in a six team field.