Aug. 6, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Richmond has been selected to capture the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship in voting conducted by the league's head coaches as the A-10's preseason women's cross country poll was released today.

The Spiders finished runner-up in each of the past two Championships and have placed among the top three every year since joining the league in 2001. Their lone title came in 2003. UR is led by sophomore Nicol Traynor, who earned All-Conference honors last season after finishing 11th overall and third among A-10 freshmen.

Charlotte is picked second and four-time defending champion La Salle is tabbed for third, followed by Xavier, Duquesne, Massachusetts, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis, Dayton, Rhode Island, George Washington, Fordham, Temple and St. Bonaventure.

The A-10 Women's Cross Country Championship will be held Nov. 1 at the Campus Course at Charlotte.

2008 Women's Cross Country Predicted Order Of Finish (2007 Championship Finish in parentheses)
1. Richmond (2nd)
2. Charlotte (4th)
3. La Salle (1st)
4. Xavier (3rd)
5. Duquesne (5th)
6. Massachusetts (6th)
7. Saint Joseph's (8th)
8. Saint Louis (7th)
9. Dayton (10th)
10. Rhode Island (12th)
11. George Washington (9th)
12. Fordham (11th)
13. Temple (13th)
14. St. Bonaventure (14th)