Date: March 9, 2006
Contact: Chris Hodgson (540) 458-8674
Release: Upon Receipt

ODAC RELEASES OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLLS
W&L Women Picked Third, Men Tied for Fourth

Senior Mary Christopher

SALEM, Va. -- The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) released its outdoor track & field preseason poll on Thursday and the Washington and Lee women's team was picked third, while the men's team was tied for fourth among the six teams in the conference.

The women's team received 23 points to place third. Roanoke (34 points, four first place votes) and three-time defending conference champion Lynchburg (28 points, two first place votes) earned the top two spots.

The men's team earned 15 points to tie Roanoke for the number four spot. The top three teams are eight-time defending conference champion Lynchburg (34 points, five first place votes), Eastern Mennonite (29 points, one first place vote) and Bridgewater (27 points).

At this year's ODAC Indoor Championships, the women placed second and the men were fourth among six schools. The women were led by freshman Stacy Doornbos (Roswell, Ga./Lassiter), who earned All-ODAC honors in four individual events and one relay. Senior Mary Christopher (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) garnered All-ODAC honors in a pair of individual events. For the men, junior Ryan Edge (Atlanta, Ga./Whitefield Academy), sophomore Alex Mahoney (New Trier, Ill./New Trier/Singapore American School) and freshman Vance Berry (Ponte Verda Beach, Fla./Episcopal) earned All-ODAC accolades in individual events.

Washington and Lee opens up the outdoor season on Saturday at the W&L Invitational. The meet begins at 9:30 am.

2006 ODAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll

1. Roanoke 34 (4)
2. Lynchburg 28 (2)
3. Washington and Lee 23
4. Bridgewater 19
5. Eastern Mennonite 16
6. Virginia Wesleyan 6

2006 ODAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll

1. Lynchburg 34 (5)
2. Eastern Mennonite 29 (1)
3. Bridgewater 27
4. Roanoke 15
Washington and Lee 15
6. Virginia Wesleyan 6

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