Women’s Cross Country Receives Preseason National Ranking

With the start of the 2011 season a little over a week away, the women’s cross country team has received a national ranking for the third straight season. The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association placed the Cardinal women 13th overall.

Seven teams from the Atlantic Region received rankings, with State University of New York Athletic Conference foe Geneseo leading the way in 6th place, while New York University (9th), St. Lawrence (20th), SUNY Cortland (22nd), Vassar (28th) and TCNJ (35th) round out the ranked teams from the region.

In regional rankings released on Tuesday, the Cardinals are third behind Geneseo and NYU.

Seniors Stefanie Braun and Brittany Trahan will look to lead the Cardinals in the upcoming season.  Trahan was Plattsburgh’s top finisher at the NCAA Championships last fall, finishing 127th overall. Braun placed 156th at the national meet, followed by returners Julia Warren (179th), Colleen Cotey (201st) and Kelley Driscoll (204th).

Plattsburgh will begin its 2011 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it hosts the Cardinal Classic Invitational. The event is set to begin at 11 a.m. and will follow the Rugar Woods cross country course located at the Plattsburgh State Field House.