QU Women’s Cross Country Tabbed Second in MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
8/17/2017 10:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Three-of-Four 2016 All-MAAC Runners Return in 2017
HAMDEN, Connecticut – The 2016 MAAC runner-up Quinnipiac women's cross country team earned the second spot in the 2017 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office on Thursday, August 16. Since joining the league in 2013, Quinnipiac has placed second in three-of-four seasons with the one breakthrough coming in 2015 as the Bobcats dethroned an Iona squad that had won 10 consecutive conference titles.
The Bobcats earned the second spot in the poll with one first place vote and 108 total points as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches. Quinnipiac sits 10 points behind the MAAC preseason favorite and 2016 conference champion Iona while Marist (85 points) and Canisius (82 – one first place vote) follow suit in third and fourth. Rounding out the poll is Manhattan (76), Monmouth (71), Siena (65), Rider (46), Fairfield (39), Niagara (24) and Saint Peter's (12).
Three-time conference Coach of the Year Carolyn Martin, now entering her ninth season manning the helm at Quinnipiac, has plenty of championship experience as she led the Bobcats to four straight Northeast Conference titles before joining the MAAC in 2013. The four conference titles in her first four years helped continue an NEC record streak of eight straight conference championships for the Bobcats. Over the last 13 seasons (since 2004), Quinnipiac has captured nine conference titles and finished no worse than second in any of those conference championship meets.
Coach Martin has the added benefit of returning three-of-four All-MAAC performers from 2016 including seniors Kaleigh Roberts (Higganum, Connecticut) and Emily Wolff (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) alongside 2016 MAAC Rookie of the Year Kaitlin Bakas (Windsor, Connecticut). Roberts is already a three-time All-MAAC honoree and has a shot to become the third Bobcat in program history to finish her career with four All-Conference honors. Wolff is a two-time All-MAAC performer and has finished no worse than third on the team in 13 straight appearances. Bakas stormed to an eighth place finish at the 2016 MAAC Championship, becoming an All-MAAC honoree and just the third Bobcat in program history to take home Rookie of the Year honors (first since 2008).
Other members of the team looking to contribute in a big way in 2017 include senior Katey Veron (Franklin Square, New York), sophomores Ellie Songer (Webster, New York) and Sara Wilcox (Glastonbury, Connecticut) alongside a pair of grad students in Cori Reid (Old Saybrook, Connecticut) and Alyson Caron (Andover, New Jersey) who completed four-year careers with Quinnipiac's track and field programs and now enter their first season as a member of the cross country team. Reid owns the program record time in the 800m while Caron is second all-time at Quinnipiac in the same event.
The 2017 season kicks off on September 2 as the Bobcats travel to Stony Brook for their season-opening meet. The MAAC Championship will be held at Holmdel Park in New Jersey which served as the site of the Bobcats' triumph in 2015, defeating Iona to take home the MAAC title.
| MAAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll | ||
| Rank | Team (1st Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Iona (9) | 118 |
| 2. | Quinnipiac (1) | 108 |
| 3. | Marist | 85 |
| 4. | Canisius (1) | 82 |
| 5. | Manhattan | 76 |
| 6. | Monmouth | 71 |
| 7. | Siena | 65 |
| 8. | Rider | 46 |
| 9. | Fairfield | 39 |
| 10. | Niagara | 24 |
| 11. | Saint Peter's | 12 |
The Bobcats earned the second spot in the poll with one first place vote and 108 total points as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches. Quinnipiac sits 10 points behind the MAAC preseason favorite and 2016 conference champion Iona while Marist (85 points) and Canisius (82 – one first place vote) follow suit in third and fourth. Rounding out the poll is Manhattan (76), Monmouth (71), Siena (65), Rider (46), Fairfield (39), Niagara (24) and Saint Peter's (12).
Three-time conference Coach of the Year Carolyn Martin, now entering her ninth season manning the helm at Quinnipiac, has plenty of championship experience as she led the Bobcats to four straight Northeast Conference titles before joining the MAAC in 2013. The four conference titles in her first four years helped continue an NEC record streak of eight straight conference championships for the Bobcats. Over the last 13 seasons (since 2004), Quinnipiac has captured nine conference titles and finished no worse than second in any of those conference championship meets.
Coach Martin has the added benefit of returning three-of-four All-MAAC performers from 2016 including seniors Kaleigh Roberts (Higganum, Connecticut) and Emily Wolff (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) alongside 2016 MAAC Rookie of the Year Kaitlin Bakas (Windsor, Connecticut). Roberts is already a three-time All-MAAC honoree and has a shot to become the third Bobcat in program history to finish her career with four All-Conference honors. Wolff is a two-time All-MAAC performer and has finished no worse than third on the team in 13 straight appearances. Bakas stormed to an eighth place finish at the 2016 MAAC Championship, becoming an All-MAAC honoree and just the third Bobcat in program history to take home Rookie of the Year honors (first since 2008).
Other members of the team looking to contribute in a big way in 2017 include senior Katey Veron (Franklin Square, New York), sophomores Ellie Songer (Webster, New York) and Sara Wilcox (Glastonbury, Connecticut) alongside a pair of grad students in Cori Reid (Old Saybrook, Connecticut) and Alyson Caron (Andover, New Jersey) who completed four-year careers with Quinnipiac's track and field programs and now enter their first season as a member of the cross country team. Reid owns the program record time in the 800m while Caron is second all-time at Quinnipiac in the same event.
The 2017 season kicks off on September 2 as the Bobcats travel to Stony Brook for their season-opening meet. The MAAC Championship will be held at Holmdel Park in New Jersey which served as the site of the Bobcats' triumph in 2015, defeating Iona to take home the MAAC title.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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