Skyhawks Selected To USTFCCCA East Region And National Preseason Polls

Stonehill women's cross country team picked 23rd in USTFCCCA National Poll, 1st in East Regional
Men tabbed 25th overall in National Poll, 2nd in East Regional Poll

Senior captain Caroline McBride will
look
to help the Skyhawks earn their
fourth
NCAA Division II East Regional
title in
as many seasons this fall.

EASTON, Mass. (September 4, 2012) – The Stonehill College women's cross country team, winners of the last three NCAA Division II East Regional championships, has been selected 23rd nationally and no. 1 overall in the East Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), it was announced last week.

The men's squad has been chosen to finish 25th overall in the national poll and second overall in the East Region after earning its ninth-straight trip to the NCAA Division II Championships last season.

In the women's East Regional poll, the Skyhawks rank first ahead of Bentley University, American International College, UMass Lowell and Merrimack, respectively.

The women's squad, who has made 12-straight trips to the NCAA Division II Championships, represents the only team from the East Region inside the top-25. For the first time in national rankings history, 35 teams have been ranked this season. Going into effect this fall, the NCAA has increased the number of teams that will participate at the Division II cross country national championships from 24 teams to a total of 32.

In the men's East Regional poll, UMass Lowell ranks first overall while Stonehill checks in at second overall. Bentley University checks in at third while American International College and Southern Connecticut State University round out the top-5.

Augustana (S.D.) has been picked to defend its national championship on the women's side in the national poll while Adams State has been selected ahead of defending champion, Western State, on the men's side.

Stonehill will open up its 2012 season on Saturday, September 8 as both the men's and women's cross country teams travel to Manchester, N.H. to participate in the Shacklette Invitational, hosted by Saint Anselm College.

Both teams will look to defend their Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) titles on Saturday, October 20 at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. at 10 a.m.