Women’s Cross Country picked fifth in NEC preseason poll

SOMERSET, N.J.: The Bryant University women's cross country team has been ranked fifth in the NEC preseason poll. The results were announced Monday.

Central Connecticut is the top pick, with eight first place votes. Saint Francis of PA and Sacred Heart each took one first place vote and come second and third, respectively. Mount St. Mary's is fourth, followed by Bryant, Long Island, Wagner, Merrimack, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Saint Francis of Brooklyn.

The Bulldogs finished 6th overall at last season's NEC championships, with Julia Ayres and Sarah Freeman earning all-conference honors. Both are returning this season. Head coach Mitchell Switzer will once again be at the helm for his seventh season.

Bryant will kick off their season with the in-person return of the Shawn Nassaney Memorial Invitational on September 11.

Full Preseason Poll

1. CCSU (8)

2. Saint Francis U (1)

3. Sacred Heart (1)

4. Mount St. Mary's

5. Bryant

6. LIU

7. Wagner

8. Merrimack

9. Fairleigh Dickinson

10. St. Francis Brooklyn