ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum College cross country teams have been picked to finish 10th in the league according to this year's South Atlantic Conference Coaches' Poll.
Tusculum sophomore David Cooper has also been tabbed to the Preseason All-SAC Second Team, which is selected by the league's 10 media relations directors.
Cooper boasted an outstanding rookie campaign for the Pioneers in 2011 as he was TC's top runner in all five meets, including his first place performance at the Maryville Invitational. Cooper won with a time of 27:47 for the 16th fastest 8K time in school history. The Chuckey-Doak High School graduate also finished 11th at the Guilford Cross Country Festival, 19th at the Carson-Newman Challenge and 21st at the South Atlantic Conference Championship. For his efforts, he was named to the SAC All-Freshman Team.
Cooper also finished 79th at the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Cross Country Championship, where he accounted for a 10K time of 34:14.3.
Mars Hill tops the men's poll with 77 total points, including five first place votes. Anderson is second with 76 points and four first place votes, while Wingate is third with a 62 points and a first place nod. Lenoir-Rhyne is fourth with 58 points, followed by Brevard (49), Lincoln Memorial (39), Newberry (29), Catawba (28), Carson-Newman (21) and Tusculum (11).
In the women's poll, Anderson is the favorite to win with 76 points and five first place votes. Wingate is also second, while receiving five first place votes and 73 points. Lenoir-Rhyne is third with 66 points, followed by Carson-Newman (55), Mars Hill (48), Lincoln Memorial (39), Brevard (35), Catawba (24), Newberry (24) and Tusculum (10).
Tusculum will open its 2012 campaign, Friday, August 31st at the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C.
- SAC -
2012 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Rk Team (1st Place Votes) Pts
1 Mars Hill (5) 77
2 Anderson (4) 76
3 Wingate (1) 62
4 Lenoir-Rhyne 58
5 Brevard 49
6 Lincoln Memorial 39
7 Newberry 29
8 Catawba 28
9 Carson-Newman 21
10 TUSCULUM 11
2012 Preseason All-SAC Men's Cross Country Team
First Team
Eric Blackburn, Mars Hill
Christian Crifasi, Catawba
Parks Edwards, Anderson
Steve Hammond, Wingate
Josh Mower, Brevard
Alex Pena, Anderson
Mike York, Lenoir-Rhyne
Second Team
Joshua Adcock, Mars Hill
Biniam Ateka Belachew, Wingate
David Cooper, Tusculum
Josh Greenfield-Tuttle, Mars Hill
Kyle Koby, Anderson
Aaron Nelson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Matthew Shaffer, Anderson
2012 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
Rk Team (1st Place Votes) Pts
1 Anderson (5) 76
2 Wingate (5) 73
3 Lenoir-Rhyne 66
4 Carson-Newman 55
5 Mars Hill 48
6 Lincoln Memorial 39
7 Brevard 35
8 Catawba 24
Newberry 24
10 TUSCULUM 10
2012 Preseason All-SAC Women's Cross Country Team
First Team
Ashley Kale, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sofia Lopez Mimendi, Lincoln Memorial
Hannah Reese, Carson-Newman
Hannah Robles, Anderson
Brianna Stevens, Wingate
Jessica Viscusi, Mars Hill
Keeley Wood, Wingate
Second Team
Angela Canale, Brevard
Sydney Hazel, Anderson
Amanda Johnson, Anderson
Meredith Nix, Carson-Newman
Laura Rhyne, Lenoir-Rhyne
Amber Stoerp, Lincoln Memorial
Taylor Varnadoe, Wingate
