ELKINS, W. Va. - As Head Coach
Jason Pyles enters his ninth season with the Davis & Elkins Men's Cross Country Team, he has reason to be optimistic about his team's chances to compete well this year. After all, he returns deep and talented men's and women's squads that each earned a spot in the NCAA National Championships a year ago. The men's team finished twenty-eighth, their highest ever finish, behind an incredible performance by first-team All-MEC honoree
Jan Thewes, who returns this season as a junior. The women's team finished thirty-fourth, with
Savanna Hardman leading the way for D&E in the 6K.
On the men's side, this year's team was picked to finish second in the MEC in the preseason coaches' poll behind last season's MEC and Atlantic Region Champions, the University of Charleston. Concord checks in at third on this year's list. Frostburg State and West Virginia Wesleyan round out the top five.
Similarly, on the women's side, the Senators are ranked second behind last year's MEC and Atlantic Region Champions the Golden Eagles of UC. Concord ranks third, with West Virginia Wesleyan and Frostburg State coming in at fourth and fifth, respectively.
Key returners for the men this year include four seniors in
Gabe Conder,
Carter McKenna,
Jackson Gibson, and
Ryan Rasco, juniors
Jan Thewes,
Cooper Gibson, and
Konnor Allison, as well as sophomore standout
Charlie Stephenson.
The women's team brings back senior
Ella Hesson, and juniors
Lauren Twyman and
Savanna Hardman. Standout sophomores
Cameryn Wheeler and
Lydia Falkenstein round out the key returners.
The Senators Cross Country teams open their season at the Navy Invitational on Saturday, September 7 in Annapolis, Maryland.
MEC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Charleston (8) - 98
2. Davis & Elkins (3) - 93
3. Concord - 76
4. West Va. Wesleyan - 74
5. Frostburg State - 66
T6. Point Park - 44
T6. West Liberty - 44
8. Fairmont State - 39
9. Glenville State - 33
10. Wheeling - 27
11. West Virginia St. - 11
*
Coaches not permitted to vote for own team
( ) First-place votes
MEC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Charleston (7) - 97
2. Davis & Elkins (4) - 94
3. Concord - 80
4. Frostburg State - 67
5. West Va. Wesleyan - 65
6. West Liberty - 58
7. Glenville State - 40
T8. Fairmont State - 34
T8. Point Park - 34
10. Wheeling - 25
11. West Virginia St. - 11
* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team
( ) First-place votes
