NEC Release

LORETTO, Pa. (Aug. 9, 2011) – The Northeast Conference announced its preseason men's cross country poll Tuesday with Saint Francis University coming in second.

"In reality it's anybody's ballgame among four or five schools,” head coach Gordon Thompson said. “This could be a really fun season."

The Red Flash return five of their top seven from the team that finished second at the Northeast Conference Championship a season ago. The Flash also returns four of their top seven from their 16th-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. Three of Saint Francis' four All-NEC selections return from 2010 in Chris Mills (Pikesville, Md./Western Tech), Shaun Foley (Hamilton, N.J./Notre Dame) and Sean Kirby (Clarksville, Md./River Hill). The Red Flash also feature Christopher Fischer (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), who finished 16th at the conference meet in 2010 and earned Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year honors.

Saint Francis owns a top three finish in each of the past two seasons including its second-place finish a season ago. The Red Flash will also look to replace Tim Wertner the NEC Individual runner-up a season ago at the NEC Championship and SFU's top finisher at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.

The Red Flash open the 2011 season Sept. 3 at the Mount St. Mary's 5K duals.

2011 Northeast Conference
Men's Cross Country
Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Central Connecticut State (10)
2. Saint Francis (PA) (2)
3. Sacred Heart
4. Monmouth
5. Wagner
6. Bryant
7. Mount St. Mary's
8. Quinnipiac
9. Robert Morris
10. St. Francis (NY)
11. Fairleigh Dickinson
12. Long Island

First place votes in parentheses ( ).