Aug. 20, 2008

Fairfield, CT - The Sacred Heart men's cross country team has been voted third in the coaches NEC preseason poll, released today.

Two-time defending champion Quinnipiac received 8 first place votes and is the favorite to capture its third consecutive NEC title. Monmouth finished just ahead of the Pioneers in second, garnering one first place vote. Sacred Heart also picked up a first place vote edging out Mount St. Mary's who took the final first place vote and fourth in the poll.

Saint Francis (PA), Wagner, and Central Connecticut took fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively. Robert Morris is projected to finish eighth just ahead of Farleigh Dickinson who took ninth. Long Island and St. Francis (NY) round out the poll tied for tenth.

The Pioneers had their best NEC finish ever last season, finishing third. Sacred Heart stands poised to challenge for the conference crown after losing only one runner to graduation. All-NEC honoree John Kenworthy (Gloversville, NY) is back for his senior campaign after garnering a 2007 Athlete of the Week nod and finishing fifth overall at the league event with a time of 26:30.2.

Fellow senior all-leaguer David Jones (Ballston Lake, NY) will enter 2008 after recording a 27:00.7 time, good for 12th in the conference. Other top-finishing runners back in action include senior Luis German (Southampton, NY/Southampton) and juniors Ryan Murdoch (Niantic, CT/East Lyme) and Brendan Rickert (Danbury, CT).

Sacred Heart opens its drive for a conference title September 6 at the Fordham Invitational.