NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced their 2016 regional cross country preseason polls. The Iona College women’s program was selected 12th in the Northeast region.
Providence takes claim as the favorite in the Northeast Region. After the Gaels’ spoiled Providence’s hope for a three-peat in 2014, the Friars regained the title in 2015. The ACC is represented by second-ranked Syracuse and eigth-ranked Boston College. The third-through-seven ranked teams come from the Ivy League, represented by Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Brown, and Cornell respectively. Also ranking ahead of the Maroon and Gold are New Hampshire (9) and Stony Brook (11). Albany, Buffalo, and Connecticut round out the top-15.
The Gaels’ will return two top-25 finishers in the MAAC Championship. Junior Rachel Garn and sophomore Julia Kearley headline the Maroon and Gold’s top performers for the 2016 season.
The Maroon and Gold will open the 2016 season on Sep. 3 at the Marist Invitational at Vassar Farm in Poughkeepsie, NY. The MAAC Championships will be held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, FL on Saturday, Oct. 29.