Cross Country picked 10th in USA South Poll

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Meredith College, under the direction of second-year Head Coach Leslie Payne, was picked in the USA South Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll to capture the women's cross country title in 2016. Last season, the Avenging Angels took home the program's third consecutive Conference championship. Meredith received 11 of 13 possible first place votes, to go along with 142 points. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

 The Conference welcomes two new members in the sport of women's cross country as Agnes Scott College and Salem College have joined the USA South.

Salem will be led by a large returning contingent on the squad. Janine Bardell was Salem's number one runner all of the 2015 season. The Spirits kick-off their season on September 3rd at the Catawba Invitational in Salisbury. They run in the USA South Preview Meet at Piedmont on October 8th and at the USA South Championship Meet at Piedmont on October 29th.

Covenant College finished second in the balloting with 130 points and one first place vote while Piedmont College placed third with 119 points and the final remaining first place vote. Mary Baldwin College came in fourth with 107 points while Maryville College ranked fifth with 90 points. LaGrange College rounded out the top-half of the poll in seventh place with 87 points.