Date: August 27, 2004
Contact: Chris Hodgson (540) 458-8674
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS PICKED THIRD IN ODAC PRESEASON POLL
Both Squads Have a Strong Group of Returners

Senior Steven Chambers

LEXINGTON, Va. -- The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) released its men's and women's cross country preseason polls on Friday and Washington and Lee was ranked third in both polls.

The W&L men's team received 69 points and two first place votes. Defending champion Roanoke (75 points, five first place votes) and Lynchburg (72 points, two first place votes) earned the top two spots in the poll.

The W&L women's team garnered 63 points to place third. The top two teams were defending champion Lynchburg (81 points, seven first place votes) and Roanoke (74 points, two first place votes).

Both Generals squads placed third in the 2003 ODAC Championship. The top returner on the men's team is senior Steven Chambers (Christiana, Pa./Octorara Area) who placed 11th at the ODAC Championship to earn Second Team All-ODAC honors. On the women's team, sophomore Jenny Ratzel (Elm Grove, Wis./Brookfield East) garnered All-ODAC Second Team accolades with an eighth place finish at the ODAC Championship.

Washington and Lee opens up the 2004 season on Saturday, September 11, when the Generals host the W&L Invitational. The meet begins at 10:00 am.

2004 ODAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

1. Roanoke 75 (5)
2. Lynchburg 72 (2)
3. Washington & Lee 69 (2)
4. Bridgewater 52
5. Eastern Mennonite 46
6. Hampden-Sydney 30
7. Virginia Wesleyan 27
8. Emory & Henry 22
9. Guilford 15

2004 ODAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll

1. Lynchburg 81 (7)
2. Roanoke 74 (2)
3. Washington & Lee 63
4. Eastern Mennonite 50
5. Bridgewater 39
6. Virginia Wesleyan 33
7. Emory & Henry 25
8. Hollins 23
9. Guilford 15

-- GENERALS --