Red Flash Women’s Cross Country Ranked Fourth in NEC Preseason Poll

LORETTO, Pa. (Aug. 22, 2008) – The Saint Francis women’s cross country team was picked to finish fourth in the Northeast Conference this season in a poll by the league’s head coaches. Quinnipiac, who has won the conference for three consecutive years, is once again the favorite, receiving eight first place votes. Monmouth was ranked second with one first place vote, and Sacred Heart was chosen third, also with one first place vote.

The Red Flash will look to head coach Felix Moreno, who is in his second year at the helm of the program, for guidance to their first league title since 2004. Junior Anna Hoffman (Enon Valley, Pa./Mohawk), a two-time NEC Athlete of the Week, crossed the tape in 18:19.4 at last year's league event. Hoffman's time was good for fifth overall, gaining her a spot on the all-conference team. Junior Allyson Sheehan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and senior Sarah Rutledge (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) are also back for the Red Flash after posting the team's third and fourth-best finishes in 2007.

The Red Flash will host the second annual Fr. Bede Hines Cross Country Invitational on September 13.