Women’s Cross Country Fifth in Preseason PBC Coaches Poll

AUGUSTA, Ga. – After finishing seventh at last year's Peach Belt Conference Championships, the UNCP women's cross country team was picked to finish fifth by the league's coaches in 2010, the PBC office announced Wednesday.

The Lady Braves earned one second, two thirds, two fourths, two fifths, one sixth and one seventh place vote, giving them a total of 51 total points, one behind GCSU who was picked to finish fourth.

Columbus State earned top billing in the poll after winning their fifth-straight conference championship last season.  The Lady Cougars received seven of a possible nine first-place votes to finish with 74 total points, ahead of second-place Augusta State who had 67.  Clayton State is third in the poll, GCSU fourth and UNCP fifth.  Montevallo was picked sixth, Flagler and USC Aiken tied for seventh, Francis Marion was ninth and Georgia Southwestern rounded out the voting.

The Lady Braves return sophomore Annette Sem, a second team All-PBC performer a year ago, along with an additional five of their seven runners that participated in the PBC Championship meet last season.

The full Peach Belt Conference release can be found HERE.

The Lady Braves open up their 2010 campaign on Friday, September 10, at the Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, N.C.