Scot Harriers Picked to Finish in Middle of Pack

WOOSTER, Ohio — The College of Wooster cross country teams are both predicted to come in fifth in the North Coast Athletic Conference, based on the preseason coaches’ polls released by the league office on Thursday morning. They each finished in that position at last year’s NCAC Championships.

The Scot men, who lost their top-two runners from last fall to graduation but welcome back a former two-time first-team all-conference honoree, totaled 69 points in the poll, just edged by Wabash College (70). Wooster also appears to be within striking distance of Kenyon College (80) and Denison University (79), while Allegheny College is the overwhelming favorite with nine first-place votes and 99 points.

Oberlin College (48) is expected to finish in sixth among the men, followed by Earlham College (36), Ohio Wesleyan University (26), Hiram College (24), and Wittenberg University (19).

The Scots’ women’s team, which improved from seventh to fifth at the 2002 NCAC meet and returns four of its five scorers from that event, received 44 points in the vote. Allegheny also is the clear favorite on the women’s side, garnering eight first-place votes and 80 overall points.

Picked to finish 2-3-4 were Denison (71), Kenyon (63), and Oberlin (56), with Denison picking up the remaining first-place nod, while trailing Wooster were Earlham (34), Ohio Wesleyan (28), Wittenberg (18), and Hiram (11).

The Scots will open their 2003 campaign with a tri meet at Oberlin on Friday, Aug. 29, followed by a home race — the Wooster Cross Country Festival — on Friday, Sept. 5.