Women’s Cross Country Selected Fourth, Men’s Cross Country Tabbed Sixth in NECC Preseason Polls

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Elms College women's cross country team was selected to finish fourth, while the men's team was chosen to finish sixth in their respective 2012 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Preseason Polls as announced by the league office on Tuesday.

The Blazers begin a new chapter this season under first-year head coach Matt Dyer who will look to have both the men’s and women’s teams competing at the top of the NECC. Elms returns several runners from last season’s teams including junior Jesse Zina (Springfield, Mass.) on the men’s side and sophomore Rachel Lehouillier (Belchertown, Mass.) on the women’s side.

Zina holds the second and fifth fastest times at Elms’ home course of Chicopee Memorial State Park, and is also listed on the program’s top 10 list twice for fastest time on any 8-kilometer course. Lehouillier notched a personal collegiate-best time of 21:57 at the season ending NECC Championship meet to place 11th overall and her time in that race places her eighth on the program’s top 10 list for any 5-kilometer course.

Below are the polls as they were voted upon by league members:

2012 NECC Men's Cross Country Poll
1. Lesley - 49 (7)
2. Mitchell - 41
T-3. Daniel Webster - 27
T-3. Southern Vermont - 27
5. Newbury - 22
6. Elms - 21
7. Wheelock - 9

2012 NECC Women's Cross Country Poll
1. Lesley - 64 (8)
2. Mitchell - 51
3. Wheelock - 43
4. Elms - 36
5. Bay Path - 29
6. Southern Vermont - 27
7. Daniel Webster - 19
8. Newbury - 18