August 22, 2007
Contact: Mike Christie, Sports Information Director

Christopher Newport Picked as Women's Cross Country Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Christopher Newport University, under the direction of 12th-year Head Coach Keith Maurer, was picked in the preseason coaches' poll to defend its USA South Athletic Conference women's cross country title in 2007. The Captains are the nine-time defending USA South champions and have won 11 of the 12 USA South Women's Cross Country Championships ever held.

Christopher Newport received nine of ten first place votes (81 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Greensboro College finished second in the balloting with 65 points while Shenandoah University rounded out the top-three as the Hornets collected 61 points and the final remaining first place vote.

The women's cross country gets underway on Saturday, September 1 as Averett University, Christopher Newport, Greensboro, Peace College, Shenandoah and USA South newcomer Mary Baldwin College all participate in various meets.

2007 USA South Coaches Poll
Rank	Institution (1st place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Christopher Newport (9)	81
2.	Greensboro	65
3.	Shenandoah (1)	61
4.	Methodist	53
5.	Averett	39
t-6.	Meredith	33
t-6.	Peace	33
8.	N.C. Wesleyan	29
t-9.	Mary Baldwin	28
t-9.	Ferrum	28