WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RANKED THIRD IN ECC PRESEASON TALLY

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Aug. 27, 2009) - On Wednesday morning, the Molloy College women's cross country team was picked third in the 2009 East Coast Conference preseason poll. Last year, the Lions came in fifth at the ECC Championships, and now bring back five of their letterwinners under second-year head coach Al Kilfoyle. C.W. Post captured the top position in the census by raking seven of the eight first-place nods, and accumulating a total of 63 points.

New York Institute of Technology was picked second, and collected one first-place nod to coincide with its 53 points registered. Molloy, which finished 20th at the 2008 NCAA Division II Regional Championships, followed with 42 points. The Lions return All-East Coast Conference second-team honoree and two-time ECC Rookie of the Week Alexandra Barrett (Levittown, N.Y.). In her first season in Rockville Centre, Barrett broke the school record for the 5k with a 48th-place finish of 20:49.40 at the SUNY Albany Invitational.

Freshman Jackline Toek (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) from NYIT was picked as the ECC Preseason Runner of the Year. The Kenya native crossed the line in 101st-place at the 2008 NCAA Division II Championships. For her efforts during the year, Toek grabbed East Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and First-Team kudos.  

Kilfoyle and his team open up the season next Saturday, September 5, when Molloy competes in the Hofstra University Invitational. The race is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.

2009 East Coast Conference Preseason Poll - Women's Cross Country

1. C.W. Post (7 First-Place Votes)
2. NYIT (1 First-Place Vote)
3. Molloy
4. Dowling
5. Queens
6. St. Thomas Aquinas
7. Bridgeport
8. Mercy